De Las Casas

Part I of Essay
In the late fifteenth century, 1492, the Americas were discovered. What was to be a year later, the first "so-called" Christians settled on a plentiful island called Hispaniola. The Spaniards, as they were called, then systematically proceeded to slaughter the native people ....

Part II of Essay
.... process they also chose to enslave substantial amounts of natives. One could argue that the Spaniards viewed the Indians as an inferior race that was placed on earth to serve the superior race: the Europeans. This can be argued effectively because the Christians had no regard whatsoever for the Native's humanity. The Spaniards literally treated dogs with more dignity than they did with the Indians. The "Defender and Apostle to the Indians" (xiii), Bartolome , did not represent the same views as the Spaniards. "Las Casas's entire life was dedi ....