MMW 13 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Unix System Iii, Mercantilism, Real Audiencia
Key Focus:
Conflict between the missionary impulse and the economic incentive behind the
Spanish colonial experience in the Americas
1)
Cultural and social repercussions of both goals
2)
Global Christendom or Silver Bullion?
Religious Conversion vs. Economic Exploitation
Opposing rationale for each goal
i)
a)
Missionary Rationale for Conversion
1st Rationale: Early Spanish missionaries argued native American
peoples had “souls”
Valladodid Debate 1550
(1)
Church preferred to see them as “noble savages”
(2)
In contrast to Aristotelian racist theories about Africans
Why racial stigma and double-standard placed on
Africans was convenient
(a)
(3)
i)
2nd Rationale: Duty to protect native Americans as subjects of the
king
Royal charters and sanctions from Sevilla to set up missions
(1)
ii)
b)
Champion of this cause: De Las Casas (1474-1566)
Personal background
Enslaved natives
(a)
Missionary
(b)
Inspired by arguments of Fray Antonio de Montesinos
(1)
In mid-1500s, published his Short Account of the Destruction
of the Indies
Most influential
(a)
Trying to win over public opinion back in Spain and to
influence the court
(b)
(2)
i)
Basis of what would become known as “The Black Legend”
Black Legend--> incidents of how the Spanish tortured them
(1)
In order to get gold, would put feet to fire to make them give
(2)
ii)
c)
I)
Lecture 13
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
10:19 AM
Document Summary
Conflict between the missionary impulse and the economic incentive behind the. 1st rationale: early spanish missionaries argued native american peoples had souls (1) (2) (3) Church preferred to see them as noble savages . In contrast to aristotelian racist theories about africans (a) 2nd rationale: duty to protect native americans as subjects of the king (1) Royal charters and sanctions from sevilla to set up missions c) Champion of this cause: de las casas (1474-1566) i) Inspired by arguments of fray antonio de montesinos. In mid-1500s, published his short account of the destruction of the indies (a) (b) Trying to win over public opinion back in spain and to influence the court ii) Basis of what would become known as the black legend (1) (2) Black legend--> incidents of how the spanish tortured them. In order to get gold, would put feet to fire to make them give (2)
