BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS

16th century Human Rights Activist

Researched at: http://www.lascasas.org/manissues.htm

EARLY LIFE

� Born in 1484 in Sevilla, Spain

� Family background - farming & merchant

� March 31, 1493 – age nine

� Watched Columbus’ parade through Sevilla after returning from first voyage to AmericasWatched Columbus’ parade through Sevilla after returning from first voyage to Americas

� Saw Taino Indians, wearing decorated masks and artifacts of gold plates, carrying green and red parrots

� Excitement among populace resulted in many, including his father and uncle, joining Columbus on second voyage

EDUCATION

� 1493-1498 – studied Latin, reading, writing in Sevilla

� 1498 – upon father’s return, Bartolomé declares desire to become a priestdeclares desire to become a priest

� Attends best college in Spain at the time –Salamanca

� Receives two degrees in cannon law –bachillerato at Salamanca and licenciatura at Valladolid (2nd after his first trip to Americas)

ACADEMIC PRAISE

� Considered skilled in Latin

� Valued for intellectual ability

� As described by one historian:

“formidable as an advocate one whom nature had � “formidable as an advocate one whom nature had

endowed with a rare gift of eloquence, a passionate

temperament, and a robust physical constitution

which seems to have been immune to the ills and

fatigues that assail less favored mortals.”

FIRST VOYAGE (1502)

� Journey lasted from February 13 to April 15

� Lived in Santo Domingo on island of Hispanolafor five years

�Worked on his father’s lands and his own, which �Worked on his father’s lands and his own, which included overseeing Indian workers

� Travelled throughout the island with a group of soldiers�Witnessed massacre of large group of Indian leaders

�Observed living conditions of Indians and disruptions to native ways of life

RETURN TO SPAIN (1506)

� Ordained a priest in 1507

� Upon death of Christopher Columbus, Las

Casas travelled with Bartholomew Columbus to

ask Pope Julius II for the inheritance promised ask Pope Julius II for the inheritance promised

to Diego Columbus by King Ferdinand and

Queen Isabella

� Informed the pope of events in the Americas and of

opportunities to convert natives to Christianity

RETURN TO THE AMERICAS

� Back on Hispanola (1510)

� Served as official catechist to the Indians – called ‘doctinero’

� 1514 – gave up his ownership of Indians and his inter-island provisions businessinter-island provisions business

� Became preaching against the abuses and atrocities of conquest, in particular the ‘encomienda’ system

�Did not approve of the exploitation and decimation of native populations with little regard to their welfare or conversion to Christianity

A MISSION TO THE KING (1512)

� Las Casas and a friar named Antón Montesinotravelled to Spain to inform King Ferdinand of the abuses occurring in the Americas

� Resulted in the Laws of Burgos

Set out guidelines for the behavior of Spanish settlers � Set out guidelines for the behavior of Spanish settlers in the Americas, especially with regard to the treatment of native peoples

� Dealt with employment, religious education, and whether or not settlers could restrict the natives observance of their own customs and traditions

� Earned Las Casas the title “Protector of the Indians”

LATER LOBBYING

� After subsequent trips between the Americas and Spain, Las Casas became revered as an expert on the conditions in the Americas and was a trusted advisor to future kings of Spain regarding these issues.issues.

� 1542 – Lobbying to King Charles V

� Resulted in the passage of the New Laws

� Outlawing slavery and the encomienda system

� Considered one of the crowning achievements of his career

THE WRITINGS OF LAS CASAS

� Confesionario (1546)

� Policies and practices for confessors

�Designed to enforce the New Laws

� Argumentum Apologiae (1550)� Argumentum Apologiae (1550)

�Defense of his confessors’ manual against

accusations of treason

�Debated against a humanist named Juan Ginés

Sepúlveda in front of a panel of 14 judges

MOST FAMOUS WRITINGS� Historia de Las Indias (1566)

� “History of the Indies”

� Account of the histories of the native peoples and of the conquest and colonization

�Was his life’s work – continued work until his death�Was his life’s work – continued work until his death

� Brevísima Relación de la Destrucción de Las Indias (1552)

� “Brief Relation of the Destruction of the Indies”

�Outlined the atrocities committed by settlers

�Designed to convince the King of Spain to change policies