Bartolome’ de Las Casas (August 1474-July 17, 1566) was called “the
Apostle of the Indies,” as he was one of the first Christian missionaries to minister to the Indians of Latin America. The first priest ordained inthe New World, Las Casas became known for his devotion to the oppressed and enslaved natives.
He wrote Apologetic History of the Indies (Apologetica Historia de las Indias), 1530, which exposed the oppression of the Indians in the forced labor “Encomienda” system and influenced Madrid to enact the New Laws, 1542, in the interest of Indian welfare.
He also provided a great literary service by copying Columbus’ original Journal of the First Voyage (El Libro de la Primera Navegacion) into anabstract.
In his Apologetic History of the Indies, 1530, Bartolome’ de Las Casas stated:
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In the prologue of his book, Historia de las Indias, written 1550-63, translated by Rachel Phillips, Bartolome’ de Las Casas stated:
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1474BL001. Bartolome’ de Las Casas, 1530, in his Apologetic History of the Indies (Apologetica Historia de las Indias), ch. 48, translated by George Sanderlin. John Bartlett, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 154.
1474BL002. Bartolome’ de Las Casas, 1550-1563, in the prologue of his book, Historia de las Indias, translated by Rachel Phillips. John Bartlett, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 154.
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/bartolome-de-las-casas-august-1474-july-17-1566