Ignorance is often the root of injustice, however, when it is combined with a profitable opportunity, the injustice escalades to intolerable cruelty. Such is the case that is exhibited in Las Casas' recount of History of the Indies which illustrates this outcome through the events following the Spanish occupation of the Caribbean islands, referred to in the text as the Indies. This book demonstrates the deterioration of the Indians' morale from a position of social stability and cultural pride to a dehumanized slave population as a result of the Spaniard's merciless tactics and oppression.
Las Casas focuses much attention on the description of the Indians as an independent culture that is capable utilizing rationale to govern themselves as ``they are gifted with better judgement and greater ability to rule themselves`` (Las Casas 7), consequently criticizing the Spaniards ignorant claims that they need to conquer the irrational rebels'. In his writings, the Indians are......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 713
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |