Destruction of the Indies

Bartolomé de las Casas’ Destruction of the Indies surprised me at first glance with its extremely partial writing and one-sided tone throughout much of the text, but as time went on I soon realized that those very points are what las Casas intended to do when crafting this account to Prince Philip II.  As a typical American student I have always heard about Christopher Columbus’ valiant trip to the New World in 1492 along with countless stories of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.  While these stories have always been heartwarming, I have often found myself questioning the simplicity and perfection of these accounted events.  It seems impossible that such a perfect story could have taken place from the onset with Columbus and the early settlers coming to the Americas and perfectly assimilating with the native peoples with no conflict or strife.  Las Casas’ first hand account of this pivotal time in history not only confirmed these suspicions but have opened my eyes to the true nature of humanity in early North America.  Obviously, there are two sides to every story, and that is a fact that I have attempted to keep close at hand while reading this text and piecing together the story solely from the pro-Indian point of view that las Casas is defending.  I was starkly astounded at the level of indifference for life and brutality that the Spaniards displayed under Cortez, Pizarro, and Alvarado among others in their conquests from Mexico to Peru.  As a Christian it was hard for me to read and comprehend how people who claim to follow such a faith could rob, murder, rape, and torture people in such an intense and carefree fashion all in the name of the crown of Spain and the religion they have devoted their lives to.  I understand perfectly that religion is a matter of interpretation for many people, but I don’t see how any person who calls himself a Christian could rationalize such heinous action against humanity in the name of such doctrine.  Ultimately, I have come to appreciate the fact that this account helps to demonstrate to present day society lessons in greed and power and how the ideals of imperialism can cause mankind to act in unimaginable ways.  Las Casas looks to portray the Indians as a meek, helpless, and peaceful people that sought no trouble nor asked for any of the atrocities that were committed upon them by the malevolent hand of the Spanish while so many books in present day society are written to demonstrate the savagery and brutality of the Indian people.  I have found it nice and refreshing to read and study a text that solely focuses on one side of a pivotal argument.  So often students are forced to read novels and other stories that pay due diligence to both sides of a conflict while not really delving into either in a deep or meaningful capacity, but this first hand account allows the reader to critically analyze just the Indian perspective in this particular case.  This experience has helped me to compare and contrast this new knowledge with my prior study of the European colonization of North America to form a more sound and unbiased conclusion as to what really happened throughout the 1500s’ in the quest to colonize the New World.  Although every historical account is enhanced or falsified in some fashion, I have enjoyed reading this non-fictional account, and it has opened my eyes to the most evil and incomprehensible consequences that greed can have upon humankind.