1. Bartolomé de Las Casas B. ca. 1484 in Seville to merchant and his wife
Went on Columbus’s 3d voyage to Caribbean, 1502
Participated in conquest of Cuba; witnessed massacres
Was made encomendero, 1503

2. Encomienda system
Spanish colonists received tracts of land and Indians compelled to work it
Laws of Burgos, 1513: Indians to get Christian instruction and limited work hours
Indians also supposed to get protection and small wage
Reality: crown cannot control colonists; encomienda system is slavery

3. Back to Las Casas Becomes priest, 1510
Hears Dominican Antonio Montesinos lecture population of Santo Domingo on its treatment of Indians, 1511
Study of Ecclesiasticus in preparation for Easter sermon, 1514, leads Las Casas to “conversion.” He frees his slaves.
Returns to Spain, 1515, to tell king of evils done in New World
2. Takes a few years to sink in
4. King refers him to Pres of Council of the Indies, Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who says “how does that concern me?”

4. Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
First composed for king (emperor)
Published with amendments and additions, Widely translated and read.
Las Casas’s participation in debate organized in Valladolid (Spain) on whether Indians were subhuman inspired him to publish this work.