1. When was the document created?
2. Who created or authored the document?
3. In your own words, please summarize the document. What is the main claim (or claims) presented in the document? What evidence is presented to support the claim(s)?
4. Bartolome de Las Casas was a Spanish priest. In this short excerpt, how did the words and imagery he used reflect his role? Please give examples.
5. Las Casas wrote, “Among these gentle sheep…the Spaniards entered…like wolves, tigers, and lions….” Why did he choose these animals to describe the indigenous people and Spaniards, respectively?
6. What did Las Casas mean by the phrase “men calling themselves Christians”?
7. When discussing the Spaniards, Las Casas mentioned that “they have entirely lost all fear of God and the King, they have forgotten themselves as well.” What did this mean? Please explain.
8. Who was the intended audience for the document at the time it was written?
9. Why did Las Casas write this? What was his motive?
10. What do you think the document tells us about society at the time it was written?
As a Spanish priest, Las Casas's words and imagery reflect his religious role by frequently contrasting the actions of the conquistadors with Christian principles. He describes the indigenous people as "gentle sheep" and "humble, patient, and submissive," qualities that echo the Christian ideal of meekness. In contrast, he portrays the Spaniards as "wolves, tigers, and lions," animals associated with savagery and evil in religious symbolism. He also frames the conquest as an affront to God, arguing that the Spaniards' actions were a "sin" and a "mockery of Christ."
Las Casas chose these animals to create a clear moral dichotomy. The sheep represent the indigenous people's innocence, vulnerability, and peaceful nature, a common biblical metaphor for God's flock. The wolves, tigers, and lions represent the Spaniards' predatory, ferocious, and merciless behavior. This imagery highlights the immense power imbalance and casts the Spaniards as cruel predators, a stark contrast to his portrayal of the indigenous peoples.
By using the phrase "men calling themselves Christians," Las Casas meant that the Spaniards' actions were hypocritical and fundamentally contrary to the true teachings of Christianity. He implies that their actions of murder, greed, and violence were a betrayal of the faith they claimed to represent. This phrase serves as a powerful condemnation of the conquistadors, suggesting that their Christian identity was a false pretense.
Las Casas's statement, "they have entirely lost all fear of God and the King, they have forgotten themselves as well," means that the Spaniards had abandoned both their religious and civil duties. "Fear of God" was a common expression for living a moral, righteous life in accordance with divine law. By saying they lost this fear, Las Casas meant they had become so consumed by greed that they no longer cared about sin or eternal damnation. Similarly, losing fear of the king meant they had disregarded the Spanish crown's authority and laws. "Forgotten themselves" means they had lost their humanity and moral compass, behaving more like beasts than men.
The intended audience for the document was King Philip II of Spain and the Spanish court. Las Casas wrote this document as an appeal to the highest authority in the Spanish Empire, hoping to persuade the King to enact reforms and protect the indigenous populations from the abuses of the conquistadors.
Las Casas's primary motive was to stop the atrocities being committed against the indigenous peoples and advocate for their rights. He was driven by a deep sense of moral outrage and a religious duty to protect the innocent. He hoped that by revealing the full extent of the cruelty, he could compel the Spanish government to intervene and implement humane policies. His document was a tool for political and social change
Sample Answer
"The Aztec View of the Conquest" is not a part of the provided document by Bartolomé de las Casas. The following information pertains to the text by Bartolomé de las Casas.
The document, titled A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, was created in 1542.
The document was created and authored by Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish Dominican friar and historian.
In A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Las Casas argues that the Spanish conquistadors were brutally slaughtering and exploiting the indigenous peoples of the Americas, who he described as peaceful and innocent. His main claim is that the Spanish have committed horrific atrocities, including massacres, torture, and enslavement, and have done so under the guise of Christian evangelism. To support this claim, he provides detailed, firsthand accounts and statistics, such as the number of people killed in different regions, and descriptions of specific acts of cruelty. He also uses moral and religious arguments to condemn the Spaniards' actions as un-Christian.