<
casas1-1699.gif
Back to Collection: Terra Incognita

An account of the first voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards in America. Containing the most exact relation hitherto publish'd, of their unparallel'd cruelties on the Indians.

Dublin Core

Title

An account of the first voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards in America. Containing the most exact relation hitherto publish'd, of their unparallel'd cruelties on the Indians.

Description

By Don Bartholomew de las Casas, bishop of Chiapa ... Illustrated with cuts. To which is added, The art of travelling

Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish missionary and historian often referred to as "the defender of the Indians." He came to the Americas in 1502 and participated in several military campaigns to suppress the indigenous population. He was rewarded with large grants of land that included Native American slaves. At this point he considered the natives infidels and as a priest sought to convert them to Christianity.

It was not until 1514 that Casas determined to devote his life to the defense of the Native Americans. In 1515 he returned to Spain to request Ferdinand's intercession in the legal and political corruption taking place in both the New and Old Worlds. He continued writing and speaking out on the conditions he witnessed for the rest of his life.

In describing what he had witnessed in the West Indies Las Casas wrote, "… My eyes have seen these acts so foreign to human nature, and now I tremble as I write …"

Creator

Casas, Bartolome de las

Publisher

J. Darby for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar, J. Harris at the Harrow in Little Britain, and Andr. Bell at the Cross-Keys and Bible in Cornhil.

Date

1699

Citation

Casas, Bartolome de las, “An account of the first voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards in America. Containing the most exact relation hitherto publish'd, of their unparallel'd cruelties on the Indians. ,” WUSTL Digital Gateway Image Collections & Exhibitions, accessed May 16, 2024, http://lib-lslv126.wulib.wustl.edu/omeka/items/show/7711.