SFII-UF 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Bartolomé De Las Casas

• School: New York University
• Department: Social Foundations II
• Course: SFII-UF 102
• Professor: Debora Spini

Document Summary

Born 1484, seville, spain and died july 18, 1566, madrid, spain. A 16th-century spanish historian, social reformer and dominican friar. He became the first resident bishop of chiapas, and the first officially appointed "protector of the indians" There was a major discussion about whether or not the indigenous people had a soul. Las casas (cid:448)e(cid:396)y (cid:373)u(cid:272)h (cid:271)elie(cid:448)ed that they ha(cid:448)e a soul (cid:396)e(cid:272)og(cid:374)izes the(cid:373) as a (cid:395)uality of hu(cid:373)a(cid:374)ity. Did not think that indigenous people should be slaves. Does not question the fact that they should be baptized, he simply thinks that it is crazy and cruel to convert the indigenous people with force and violence, instead with christian virtues. Is convinced with the superio(cid:396)ity of (cid:272)h(cid:396)istia(cid:374)ity thi(cid:374)ks that people (cid:449)ill i(cid:373)(cid:373)ediately (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:448)e(cid:396)t when presented with this wonderful new faith. Big fact was superiority of the races (roman vs greek, european vs indigenous) Does not say slavery is wrong in general (remember african slaves)