SPAN 44 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Bartolomé De Las Casas, Inca Empire, Encomienda
Document Summary
The devastation of the indies: a brief account. Bartolome de las casas and the narratives of conquest. Written in the early years of the spanish colonies. Uncertainty, abundant land full of things that he describes to the monarchs of spain like products, economic enterprise. Also described these people, friendly shy peaceful inhabitants. But others are savages and bring fear, dualistic description. He was a priest, he wrote it by hand in 1542, about 50 years have passed since the spaniards set foot in america. Isn"t a 1st impression, but still is early. Describes the conquistadors have been organizing the land and the labor installing a rule over the indigenous people, To tell the monarchs how bad the colonist are treating the indigenous people. He wants to let them know, make sure that the monarchs know the horrible thing that is actually taking place. Wants the monarchs to take action and help the native americans, protect them from this.
