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Mohamed Alwakeel Why not? Does it say on the cover "not for Arabs" or something?…moreWhy not? Does it say on the cover "not for Arabs" or something?(less) Community Reviews· 3,288 ratings · 418 reviews Start your review of A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
Oct 17, 2014 Maru Kun rated it really liked it The index entry under “torture and death” in “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” is as eloquent about the fate of the native people of the Americas on first meeting the Spanish conquistadors as any review I could write: beating and
flogging I disappoint myself at never before having heard of Las Casas, whom Wikip beating and flogging I disappoint myself at never before having heard of Las Casas, whom Wikipedia tells me is regarded as one of the
first proponents of the idea of universal human rights. I can well understand that Las Casas deserves as much respect as any witness to the Holocaust more familiar to our age. What made this the man so different from his co-religionists responsible for the above list? A morality arising from his upbringing? A sense of compassion perhaps based on genetics? Or on rational thought? Or simply fear of Judgment Day? How could the same culture, upbringing and system of belief produce both good
such as Las Casas and the evil as the conquistadors? A question much reflected on but as unanswerable today as it has ever been. The warning of the native nobleman who fled from Hispaniola to tell the natives of Cuba about the danger they faced from the Spanish deserves to be the last word. I wonder how it read in the Spanish imperial court?
This book is something of a controversy amongst us caribbean latinos: some see it as a living testament to the atrocities and cruelties our Spanish ancestors inflicted on the natives in the Spanish quest and greed for gold in the New World; others have viewed it as pure propaganda, biased accounts and outright lies. I haven't really taken a position on this, but I can say that this had to have been the most disturbing book I have read. Told from the account of a Spanish colonizer who went to His This book is something of a controversy amongst us caribbean latinos: some see it as a living testament to the atrocities and cruelties our Spanish ancestors inflicted on the natives in the Spanish quest and greed for gold in the New World; others have viewed it as pure propaganda, biased accounts and outright lies. I haven't really taken a position on this, but I can say that this had to have been the most disturbing book I have read. Told from the account of a Spanish colonizer who went to Hispaniola to make his fortune, de las Casas soon took up the cause (even petitioning the King of Spain at the time) of the native Peoples of not only of the Native peoples on the island of Hispaniola, but of all of the Native peoples and their lands who were "conquered" and ruled by the Spanish crown. The use of 'human' abattoirs, mastiffs, killing for the sake of killing, all are listed in this book and was used as plea to the Spanish royal court to at least send out a decree to 'convert' the native peoples to christianity (much to no avail). In hindsight, a sad and disturbing account of man's inhumanity to man fueled by his lust for riches. ...more
This was... so raw and bloody. I'm usually in for the bloody things, but this was way too bloody and awful. I liked how this Spaniard guy recognized that the things that Spaniards did to Latin America and the
Caribbean indigenous people, and how he said it was "inhuman and barbaric". Definitely worth the try! Definitely worth the try! ...more
"Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?" I wonder if the Ukrainian Famine, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, the Southwest African Genocide, the Macedonian
Genocide in Greece, the Palestinian Genocide, and so many other atrocities of the 20th century will be in 500 years forgotten and labelled "necessary" as the biggest genocide in the world has remained to be forgotten - the one of the uncounted tens of millions of Native Americans killed and tortures, their descendants I wonder if the Ukrainian Famine, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Rwandan
Genocide, the Southwest African Genocide, the Macedonian Genocide in Greece, the Palestinian Genocide, and so many other atrocities of the 20th century will be in 500 years forgotten and labelled "necessary" as the biggest genocide in the world has remained to be forgotten - the one of the uncounted tens of millions of Native Americans killed and tortures, their descendants still displaced and denied. The book sheds the missing light of the well established stereotype of the "enlightened"
conquest of paradise.
This book reminds me—incongrouosly—of the Baburnama, the autobiography of the founder of the Mughal Empire. Not that the content or style of these two books is at all similar (though there are massacres in
both), but that their historical interest far outpaces their reading pleasure. Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish friar who took it upon himself to expose the plight of the American Indians. After experiencing a kind of epiphany as a young man, he sold his property and his slaves, and spent t Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish friar who took it upon himself to expose the plight of the American Indians. After experiencing a kind of epiphany as a young man, he sold his property and his slaves, and spent the rest of his ideas pestering the Spanish ruling class to intervene in the bloody colonization of the New World. This book formed a
part of that effort, and thus is far closer in nature to a pamphlet or even a blog post than a history. It is divided into short chapters, each one dealing with a different part of the new Spanish colonies. Rather than a chronological series, however, Las Casas presents us with a chronicle of atrocities. This makes the book simultaneously disturbing and, by the end, rather underwhelming, as the horrific material becomes repetitive. The Spanish certainly do not come out well. Indeed, Las
Casas is so scathing that his writings were used as anti-Spanish propaganda for generations after his death. Allowing for some rhetorical exaggeration, however, I think there is little reason to doubt the general truth of Las Casas’s narrative: that colonization was brutal and horrific. Considering all of the people and cultures that were lost, it remains one of history’s greatest tragedies. And though Las Casas’s historical reputation is tarnished by his endorsement of African slavery (he later
repented and apologized), I think he deserves quite a bit of credit for being a lonely voice of humanity within a humanitarian catastrophe. To end, here is a good summation of his book and his style:
Sep 10, 2015 Czarny Pies rated it it was amazing This short document should be read by all those
studying history as undergraduates and by anyone even moderately interested in the colonisation of the New World. A Spaniard and a Dominican friar, Las Casas was horrified by the atrocities that he saw being committed by his countrymen against the local Indian populations in the countries that they were seeking to colonize and economically exploit. Las Casas spend over forty years pleading for changes to the methods used by the Spaniards which were Las Casas spend over forty years pleading for changes to
the methods used by the Spaniards which were resulting in great loss of life and intense misery amongst the indigenous population. In the view of Las Casas the atrocities were unnecessary, did nothing to increase the wealth of the Spanish nation and were only undermining the reputation of the Spanish crown. Las Casas presents his case with great vehemence but today with some nuances his analysis is the one that we all accept. The existence of the "Short Account of the Destruction of the
Indies" shows that the brutality of the colonizers was a matter of public notoriety from the early sixteenth century onward and that those in power in the colonizing countries were certainly aware of it. The Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies dispels the myth that no one knew what was happening. However, the book raises as many questions as it answers. It has become a staple for history students in North American universities and deserves the widest possible audience. This
book which requires less than an evening to read delivers a great deal to anyone interested in history.
Mar 03, 2022 Canon rated it liked it From being decried as “Spanish Black Legend” propaganda to being celebrated as a
progenitor of Liberation Theology, this is a gruesome, historically significant work in which Las Casas criticizes the Spanish Empire's genocidal colonization of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. While I could appreciate Las Casas’s ostensible courage in speaking out against the Spanish Empire, and the fierce rhetoric he uses in this task, I was somewhat cooled by the consideration that his overriding concern While I could appreciate Las Casas’s ostensible courage in speaking out against the Spanish Empire, and the fierce rhetoric he uses in this task, I was somewhat cooled by the consideration that his overriding concern appears to be that
because the Spanish armies have behaved badly, all the pure childlike Indians will not accept Christianity and will thus all go to hell. He is obviously horrified and outraged by the events he portrays, yet one almost gets the sense that the heavenly mission of the Church is the true victim. He is advising that if Spain had been much less brutal, it would have accomplished its ultimate mission of domination more effectively. Thus, it seems to me that in this text Las Casas theologically
performs the same colonial logic of domination as the conquistadores he portrays as brutes (see Willie James Jennings, The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race). Undoubtedly an interesting work.
Jul 11, 2009 Deirdre rated it it was amazing As historians and critics we try always to interpret documents in the context of the times out of which they were produced. We recognise that dominant ideologies in other cultures and other times were very different from our own. But then a rare and very different voice speaks to us, demonstrating that the dominant opinions were not the only ones, that there were a few rare minds interpreting their own times in ways we recognise. Such a voice is that of de Las Casas. He was a Spanish colonist op As historians and critics we try always to interpret documents in the context of the times out of which they were produced. We recognise that dominant ideologies in other cultures and other times were very different from our own. But then a rare and very different voice speaks to us, demonstrating that the dominant opinions were not the only ones, that there were a few rare minds interpreting their own times in ways we recognise. Such a voice is that of de Las Casas. He was a Spanish colonist operating for years in the Caribbean and South America who had an epiphany after years of witnessing the torture, genocide and slavery of the indigenous peoples at the hands of his own people. He gave up slave owning and became a priest. After 6 years of missionary work preaching unsuccessfully for the end of slavery, he took his campaign back to Spain. This work was his petition to the King of Spain and his work was instrumental in the implementation of reforms back in the New World. It is a must read for anyone interest in the history of imperialism and colonial practices. ...more
Man, white people have done some really awful shit.
I had to read this for World Literature...it wasn't very interesting. Basically, the Spanish go everywhere in the Indies and do unspeakable things to the natives. Except we're not really sure if they DID do what Las Casas claims, because he was prone to exaggerate to help sway the Spanish King. So, all we can really take from this narrative is: The Spanish probablyyyy weren't very nice. I had to read this for World Literature...it wasn't very interesting. Basically, the Spanish go everywhere in the Indies and do unspeakable things to the natives. Except we're not really sure if they DID do what Las Casas claims, because he was prone to exaggerate to help sway the Spanish King. So, all we can really take from this narrative is: The Spanish probablyyyy weren't very nice. ...more
How do you give a star rating to something like this? As a book it has its limits; as an historical record, it’s invaluable. It documents in gory and excruciating detail the long series of mass-murders, tortures, and
enslavements that (along with the introduction of European diseases – unmentioned by the author) eventually reduced the native population of the Americas by as much as 90-95%. It is a very painful read. But talk about a complicated, fateful figure… Las Casas settled on Hispaniola in It is a very painful read. But talk about a complicated, fateful figure… Las Casas settled on Hispaniola in 1502 and participated in the enslavement of the native population. He argued against the Dominicans who had complained, loudly, of the abuse of the Indians by the Spanish. In fact, Las Casas was instrumental in getting the Dominicans (temporarily) thrown out of Hispaniola. As an ordained priest he accompanied armed expeditions in the conquest of Cuba and was a first-hand witness of incredible atrocities. For his service he was awarded a large grant of land and hundreds of Indian slaves. Disgusted with himself, he renounced his whole life to date. Eventually, Las Casas became a Dominican novice himself. He spent the rest of his life documenting and fighting against the oppression and genocide of the natives, and what he argued was the grossly illegal seizure and destruction of their property and land. Though he came to regret it later, it was Las Casas who first suggested the importation of African slave labor to alleviate the burden placed on the Native Americans. ...more
This book was for one of my classes and it’s an account from a man who watched the slavery taking place in the Caribbean after Columbus “discovered” the Americas. It was really interesting because it illustrated that some people actually opposed what happened in the America’s. But it also illustrates the white savior complex, as the author details how they will save the people from slavery. Overall it was interesting to read.
Jan 17, 2021 Victor rated it really liked it “Then the hard, dry Spaniards came exploring through, greedy and
realistic, and their greed was for gold or God. They collected souls as they collected jewels. They gathered mountains and valleys, rivers and whole horizons, the way a man might now gain title to building lots.” ― John Steinbeck, East of Eden
I love getting to occasionally teach high school history because I get a chance to read all the things I missed by being educated in the 1970s and 80s. .. I am glad to know my own kids assure me they
read las Casas in high school while regretfully I did not - but my students will. las Casas' eyewitness account of the genocide that took place in the Américas throughout the 16th century is beyond horrifying. Las Casas is very clear that the God of the Spaniard "explorers" is Gold; that "everyone, y las Casas' eyewitness account of the genocide that took place in the Américas throughout the 16th century is beyond horrifying. Las Casas is very clear that the God of the Spaniard "explorers" is Gold; that "everyone, young and old alike, who journeys to the New World is either openly or in secret a fortune-hunter. . .and all such fortunes are made at the
expense of the local people." His excruciating details of the torture that is inflicted upon a peaceful group of people, for no reason other than enriching the pockets of Spaniards, are difficult to read. He and other priests make it very clear that populations are decimated not accidentally by disease, but directly by attack, and indirectly by working them so hard in the gold mines and in diving for pearls that they die. The women and children and elderly die off again, either because they are
directly killed or tortured, or because all the able-bodied men have been taken as slaves and the Spaniards also take all the food, leaving everyone else to slowly starve. Island by Island, landmass by landmass las Casas chronicles the decimation of the local populations in great detail for King Philip II, imploring him to recognize the basic human and property rights of the native populations. Too many people of my generation and older are much too ignorant of this 500 year old genocide
that has greatly impacted the world today. Las Casas loved his Spain so much that he wrote this account in part in hopes that King Philip would stop the genocide and save the Spaniards' souls from rotting in Hell. I don't imagine he would be pleased if he were alive today.
Mar 12, 2013 Zana rated it liked it Bartolomé de las Casas was such an interesting figure... While he advocated indigenous rights, he did so within the culture and context of colonial Spain so his views were inadvertently racist when viewed through the lens
of the modern day. We don't really seem to touch on views which don't fit our current narrative. While discussions on de las Casas's political motives and intentions might derail us from the topic of indigenous rights, it is always good to remember that issues such as indigenou Bartolomé de las Casas was such an interesting figure... While he advocated indigenous rights, he did so within the culture and context of colonial Spain so his views were
inadvertently racist when viewed through the lens of the modern day. We don't really seem to touch on views which don't fit our current narrative. While discussions on de las Casas's political motives and intentions might derail us from the topic of indigenous rights, it is always good to remember that issues such as indigenous rights are more complicated than the mere two sides of a coin could ever present. Anyway, let's get on with the review. In the Penguin edition, I think reading
the introduction by Anthony Pagden is essential to understanding the situation in mainland Spain during its early colonial ventures. Pagden breaks down de las Casas's viewpoint, both politically and socially, and not to mention, religiously. It is a good rundown on how politics and religion affected de las Casas's actions. While advocating for indigenous rights was the "right" thing to do in his mind (from a social justice viewpoint), he also viewed this issue from a religiopolitical standpoint.
If the Spanish Crown continued letting its conquistadores run free in the New World inflicting their reign of terror on the native inhabitants, then God will surely inflict divine punishment on Spain and its people. It is always interesting to see where historical figures come from. I'll admit, I only knew about de las Casas and his defence of the Indians, and I was ignorant of how the politics of mainland Spain in the early colonial period affected de las Casas, so it was interesting to
learn about the backstory concerning how the situation on the continent affected--or most likely, did not affect--the policies of the Spanish colonies. On the actual historical document itself, this was essentially written to persuade Prince Philip II to right the wrongs caused by the Spanish conquistadores before Spain gets sent to hell in a handbasket. The case studies shown are very repetitive. Basically, this is how it goes: 1. Conquistadores land on new territory. Subsequent case studies provide even more gruesome details than the ones previously mentioned in the document, and like I've said before, this was a document written to persuade, and in that aspect, I think de
las Casas's account did its job fairly well, considering the time period and attitudes related to said time period. On that note, de las Casas does play upon the Indians' "childlike innocence" and how, upon their deaths, if they hadn't been converted to Christianity they were sent straight to hell. For everyone else who is interested in this subject, there are other scholarly books that can explain this in a manner that isn't so... political, should I say. Reading this document made
me think of how native people are always portrayed as savages and cannibals, but de las Casas describes them otherwise. Instead, the colonialists, who call themselves Christians, are the ones described as the savages and cannibals. It's an interesting reversal of roles.
Nov 30, 2016 Feliks rated it liked it Pretty gory...better than most horror movies, in that it is instructive not just
grisly. Of course, you can read it on the visceral level alone. For fans of purely the grotesque and the gruesome: this is certainly a slay-ride. The Conquest of the Indies is harrowing reading. But it also provokes some thoughtful dilemmas. What kind of species are we, really? And you really gotta wonder about these Spaniards. How could they carry out this genocide in the name of 'Holiness' and then in the next cent But it also provokes some thoughtful dilemmas. What kind of species are we, really? And you really gotta wonder about these Spaniards. How could they carry out this genocide in the name of 'Holiness' and then in the next century carry out the
Inquisition (goading and hazing other Europeans for their religious rectitude) as if their own reputation had no blemish whatsoever? The Spanish have always seemed to me a curious people. They were the Soviets of their era. Capable of the most brutal hegemony. The conquest of the Americas seems to bear this out; and it also seems fitting to me that they never really profited by it as a people. The history of Spain is a long and sad one in and of itself; and you might go as far as to say
they deserved many more centuries of their own misery after what they foisted on four million innocent Amerindians. This contemporary account of the bloodshed is a real eye-opener; and makes the petty trials and tribulations of our own times seem an affront. Pro tip: if you read this slim, 152 page tome you can probably forgo reading the more voluminous works of the great William Hickling Prescott. Ordinarily you can't shirk this challenge but yes if you are pressed for time, then switch
to this work be de las Casa instead. You sure can't get any more bloody than this. Naked innocents torn apart by wild dogs; babies dashed against stone walls; wholesale slavery; thousands of men sent underground to work in mines; or made to haul heavy ships' anchors overland; people burned and fried like swine over bonfires; drowned; hung by the hundreds. The Spaniards make the Nazis seem childish.
I had never read an account of what the Spanish really did while they were 'exploring' the New World. This was eye opening. Not everything in this book is an eyewitness account, and some events are not believed to be fully
accurate. But if even half of it is true, the atrocities committed by the Spaniards against the native american populations are astounding, perhaps even unsurpassed in human history. I didn't give the book any stars because I didn't 'like' it. Reading about people torturing and I didn't give the book any stars because I didn't 'like' it. Reading about people torturing and killing other people isn't something I 'like'. And yet, I think it's important to read. My history classes taught only about the Spanish 'explorers', and
glossed over the horrible massacres and slavery that went on for decade after decade. As an alternative to the acceptable history printed in school books, this was worth reading. May there ever be an 'alternative' voice who is willing to remind us of the ugly events of history, the violence and injustice that makes up so much of what we as human beings have done to oppress our brothers and sisters. ...more
Dec 14, 2020 Brent rated it it was amazing Short, indeed, a necessary primary source: the scale of violence is hard to fathom.
Apr 22, 2011 David rated it it was ok insight and very disturbing. Violence and more violence. It was like a horror story except this was the founding of Latin America. truly an account of shame.
The Spanish Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas was a 16th century missionary - he went to the Spanish Americas multiple times. Unlike most of his contemporaries - of which some even thought indians had no soul and
therefore no right to live - he was appalled by what he saw. Spanish armies destroyed villages, employed indians en masse - men, women and children (!) - in forced labour in gold mines and agriculture; had civilians killed on sight (if they were lucky) or tortured slowly to death Spanish armies destroyed villages, employed indians en masse - men, women and children (!) - in forced labour in gold mines and agriculture; had civilians killed on sight (if they were lucky) or tortured slowly to death (if they were less lucky). The way Las Casas describes these practices is so vivid that you cannot help but feel disgusted. To cite just two examples: (1)
Spaniards trained a large number of dogs to tear indians to shreds and employed these weapons daily and (2) had it as a common practice to bind indians on grills and slowly roast them to death ("until the bone marrow dripped from his feet"). Two things amazed while reading thise little book (you can easily read it in 2-3 hours). First, Las Casas is appalled by his fellow Spaniards - he calls them lower than beasts throughout the treatise - but he doesn't use this moral standpoint as an
argument. He reasons theologically and politically. Slaughtering and enslaving the Americas is a very un-Christian thing to do (at one point he even compares Jesus' own situation to the indians). Besides this theologically motived argument, he also claims that these Spaniards disgrace their King - who, residing in Spain, was not really up to date on these atrocities. (This is a time when communication went per ship, and even then was liable to corruption and fraud.) A second thing that I
find remarkable is the way Las Casas writes his treatise. I read the English translation, so I can only guess at the original Spanish version, but he writes - at times - in beautiful prose. A couple of examples: "(...) now in regard that I judge such reiterated Cruelties and repeated Barbarisms are Offensive to the Reader, he having sailed already to long, and too far in an Ocean of Innocent Indian blood;I have omitted all but Two or Three Stories not taken notice of by the author."
(p.81) "A Fellow (referring to a priest who actively promoted persecutions) fitter to be a Hogherd than a Shepherd of Souls." (p. 83) But like his style or not, the essence of the work lies in the fact that Bartolomé de las Casas was the only one in his time who condemned genocide and slavery as unjust acts, irrespective of race. For millennia, Christianity condoned and actively participated in slavery (the Catholic Church officially ended slavery in 1796) - it were individuals like
De Las Casas who stood up, when no one else did. In this light, it is significant that the legacy of De Las Casas remains troublesome in Spain; there have been many attempts to slander him posthumously - even in 1963 (!) there were attempts to declare him mentally sick with hindsight. And to finish this review, it is best to quote the author's own words as a conclusion: "This Deep, Bloody American Tragedy is now concluded, and my Pen choakt up with Indian Blood and Gore. I Have no
more to say, but pronounce the Epilogue made by the Author, and leave the Reader to judge whether it deserves a Plaudite." (p. 83)
This short read is worth a look for anybody interested in the Age of Discovery. Clearly some absolutely atrocious crimes were being committed in the Americas (even by the standards of the day), but the charges brought by the author are difficult to truly corroborate due to his aversion for "naming names" or listing exact dates/places. Yes, it is pretty clear who some of the accused are (Cortez and Pizarro, perhaps most obviously), but I'm inclined to think that most of the examples cited in the This short read is worth a look for anybody interested in the Age of Discovery. Clearly some absolutely atrocious crimes were being committed in the Americas (even by the standards of the day), but the charges brought by the author are difficult to truly corroborate due to his aversion for "naming names" or listing exact dates/places. Yes, it is pretty clear who some of the accused are (Cortez and Pizarro, perhaps most obviously), but I'm inclined to think that most of the examples cited in the text are not actually 100% true. Instead, I get the impression that most of the crimes described herein are tidy, composite stories to most concisely explain to the King of Spain that things were out of control and that something needed to be done as soon as possible. The most obvious times I believe this occurs are when the author directly quotes victims that were giving eloquent speeches while being burned alive, chopped into pieces, or devoured by trained dogs. I've no doubt these sorts of horrible things happened, but I doubt any such words were ever uttered while experiencing such agony. If we're trying to maintain objectivity, we should probably just keep in mind that the real intention of this account is to persuade the head of state to rein in His subjects. My guess is there are plenty of journal articles out there that do a better job of analyzing the text than I have done here. ...more
This book is essentially a catalog of atrocities allegedly committed by the conquistadors that invaded the new world under the aegis of the Spanish government. I say allegedly but I do not mean to imply that atrocities did not occur. They certainly did. It;s just that there is a degree of repetition in this book tht makes me wonder what Bishop de las Casas agenda was in writing it. WHo was his intended audience? What his hoped for result? I haven't researched that and I feel it should be before This book is essentially a catalog of atrocities allegedly committed by the conquistadors that invaded the new world under the aegis of the Spanish government. I say allegedly but I do not mean to imply that atrocities did not occur. They certainly did. It;s just that there is a degree of repetition in this book tht makes me wonder what Bishop de las Casas agenda was in writing it. WHo was his intended audience? What his hoped for result? I haven't researched that and I feel it should be before one accepts everything in this book at face value. Nevertheless, the Bishop must have been confident that enough of it was true so that it would be accepted in making his point, whatever that was. One thing I can say, I read the whole book hoping it would not be simply repetition after repetition of atrocity after atrocity, but I was disappointed. That's all the book amounts to. ...more
Jan 06, 2019 Funda Yokari rated it it was amazing An amazing but heartbreaking letter of a
priest from 15th century, explaining to the Spanish king what has been happening since Colomb discovered the new world, America. In the letter, he explains how kind, gentle and peaceful the Indian tribes were. He explains that in return of their hospitality and generousness, they received massacre and genocide as well as torture and slavery and cannibalism.
Jan 12, 2022 Mateen Ar rated it really liked it This book is very emotional. It was written by a man
who cared for a cause, wishing to make a change. Unfortunately, its attempt at attracting royal /political attention somewhat ruins the flow of the story and gives it an angle that makes it hard for the modern reader to trust: the author writes as a staunch royalist (or so it seems), and a supporter of Spanish dominion over the New World. Of course, this makes sense considering the intended audience of the book. Furthermore, the formulaic natur Furthermore, the formulaic nature of the narration, and the repetitive operations it denotes really take away from the captivating context of the book. Having read this, I am intrigued to read the full account of 'the Histories' after which this short account is modelled, and I am shocked to find (after much searching) only one published edition of said book, to the cost of a rare book.
Apr 07, 2019 Donna rated it really liked it Not an easy book to read. This is an account of the atrocities committed by the Spanish explorers in the New World. All those names you remember from the early history of North and South America—all
of them—were guilty of unspeakable crimes in pursuit of more gold and slaves. Millions were killed. Each vignette was more terrible than the last. What is interesting is that this book is the first one to set out human rights abuses. The author is a Dominican priest who was present in the New World f What is interesting is that this book is the first one to set out human rights abuses. The author is a Dominican priest who was present in the New World for many years and wrote this to the king to precipitate new laws to prevent these massacres.
Jan 01, 2016 Jane rated it did not like it what is this trash :( colonial critiques of colonial violence makes me feel gross because a) he didn't do anything to stop the bloodshed, and b) his arguments hinge on seeing Indigenous people as potential and especially suitable subjects for Christianity. another layer of saviour complex even if it acknowledges how violent Spanish colonialism during the 1400-1500s was. :( what is this trash :( colonial critiques of colonial violence makes me feel gross because a) he didn't do anything to stop the bloodshed, and b) his arguments hinge on seeing Indigenous people as potential and especially suitable subjects for Christianity. another layer of saviour complex even if it acknowledges how violent Spanish colonialism during the 1400-1500s was. :( ...more
Definitely interesting - a newer point of view of imperialism that I had never seen from a European. That being said, reading the first twenty pages would have been the same as if I hadn't read all 138. Repetition can be done skillfully and this man did not harness that skill for this work. Definitely interesting - a newer point of view of imperialism that I had never seen from a European. That being said, reading the first twenty pages would have been the same as if I hadn't read all 138. Repetition can be done skillfully and this man did not harness that skill for this work. ...more
Jul 02, 2020 Andy Lee rated it it was amazing An account of one of the greatest genocides in history.
Difficult to read, but important to know that this happened. Las Casas was one of the few people during that time that made the stand to shed light on the horrors perpetuated by the Spaniards on the indigenous populations of the Americas.
A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Bartolome de las Casas
Have to put the book down to digest the atrocities, but it is mandatory for every “American” to read this absolute reality of our start.
Bartolomé de las Casas, O.P. (November 1484 – 18 July 1566), was 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." His extensive writings, the most famous being A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies and Historia de Las Indias, chronicle the first decades of
Bartolomé de las Casas, O.P. (November 1484 – 18 July 1566), was 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." His extensive writings, the most famous being A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies and Historia de Las Indias, chronicle the first decades of colonization of the West Indies and focus particularly on
the atrocities committed by the colonizers against the indigenous peoples. In 1515 he reformed his views, gave up his Indian slaves and encomienda, and advocated, before King Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, on behalf of rights for the natives. In his early writings he advocated the use of African slaves instead of Natives in the West-Indian colonies; consequently, criticisms have been leveled at him as being partly responsible for the beginning of the Transatlantic slave trade. Later in life,
he retracted those early views as he came to see all forms of slavery as equally wrong. In 1522 he attempted to launch a new kind of peaceful colonialism on the coast of Venezuela, but this venture failed causing Las Casas to enter the Dominican Order and become a friar, leaving the public scene for a decade. He then traveled to Central America undertaking peaceful evangelization among the Maya of Guatemala and participated in debates among the Mexican churchmen about how best to bring the
natives to the Christian faith. Traveling back to Spain to recruit more missionaries, he continued lobbying for the abolition of the encomienda, gaining an important victory by the passing of the New Laws in 1542. He was appointed Bishop of Chiapas, but served only for a short time before he was forced to return to Spain because of resistance to the New Laws by the encomenderos, and conflicts with Spanish settlers because of his pro-Indian policies and activist religious stances. The remainder
of his life was spent at the Spanish court where he held great influence over Indies-related issues. In 1550 he participated in the Valladolid debate; he argued against Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda that the Indians were fully human and that forcefully subjugating them was unjustifiable. Sepúlveda countered that they were less than human and required Spanish masters in order to become civilized. Bartolomé de las Casas spent 50 years of his life actively fighting slavery and the violent colonial
abuse of indigenous peoples, especially by trying to convince the Spanish court to adopt a more humane policy of colonization. His efforts resulted in several improvements in the legal status of the natives, and in an increased colonial focus on the ethics of colonialism. Las Casas is often seen as one of the first advocates for universal Human Rights News & InterviewsThe glint of fangs in the dark, the sound of tap-tap-tapping at your window, the howling of wind (or is it just wind?) in the trees...that's... “Y porque toda la gente que huir podía se encerraba en los montes y subía a las sierras huyendo de hombres tan inhumanos, tan sin piedad y tan feroces bestias, extirpadores y capitales enemigos del linaje humano, ense” — 0 likes “por un cristiano que los indios matasen, habían los cristianos de matar cien indios.” — 0 likes More quotes…Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. What is the main idea of a short account of the destruction of the Indies?The book takes a strong stance against atrocities committed by the Spanish. It argues for the necessity of new legislation to protect the indigenous people of the New World from atrocity and enslavement, as well as the cessation of granting royal licenses to new groups of colonists to commit similar atrocities.
Why was a short account of the destruction of the Indies important?A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies is one of many books by De Las Casas that shows that he was highly persuasive and respected by the Spanish court. A Short Account was one of the most influential sources used to attempt to improve colonial conditions for the indigenous people.
What did Bartolome de las Casas argue in a very brief account of the destruction of the Indies?In 1552, Las Casas published a shocking account of Spanish cruelties, A Very Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies. He blamed the depopulation of the Native American populations on Spanish brutality rather than on the spread of disease.
Where was A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies published?A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies. Trans. Nigel Griffin. London: Penguin, 1992.
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