Bartolomé de las Casas’ A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies is a firsthand account of the Spanish conquest of the Americas and the atrocities committed against the native population. Las Casas, a Spanish priest and historian, was an eyewitness to the events he describes in the book. He details the brutality of the Spanish conquistadors, who enslaved and killed the native population in pursuit of gold and other riches. Las Casas also recounts the destruction of the native cultures, as the Spanish destroyed their temples and monuments and forced them to convert to Christianity. The book is a powerful indictment of the Spanish conquest and a plea for justice for the native people. Las Casas’ account is an important source of information on the history of the Americas and the effects of colonialism.
By Bartolomé de las Casas · First published 1552 · Genre: Historical Non-Fiction, Biography, Political Commentary · 6 chapters