Lawrence A. Clayton

A deep look at the impact of Christian scripture on Bartolomé de las Casas, one of the first and strongest critics against Spanish colonialism of the New World and for Indigenous rights. Theologian, activist, reformer, political philosopher, historian and anthropologist Bartolomé de las Casas, OP (1484-1566) was a polarising figure in his own time and continues to provoke debate today. Arriving in Hispaniola as a settler and friend of conquistadors, in time las Casas became the official "Protector of the Indians" and a zealous advocate for their rights. His writings, in particular the History of the Indies and Brief History of the Destruction of the Indies, today constitute the best source for the first three decades of Spanish exploration and conquest in the Americas. This book provides an accessible account of las Casas's life, achievements, teachings and legacy. Importantly, it underscores the tremendous influence of Christian scripture on las Casas, a surprisingly overlooked aspect in previous biographies, considering his status as a churchman and missionary. The book places him in his socio-political and religious context and traces the evolution of his thought, showing how his ideas on freedom, just war, natural law, social justice, and evangelisation frequently put him at odds with most of his contemporaries and especially the secular and ecclesiastical elites. Two centuries before Thomas Jefferson announced that "all men are created equal," las Casas proclaimed that "all mankind is one" and wielded the principle of government by consent in defence of Indigenous rights.

An accessible reader of both popular and largely unavailable writings of BartolomÉ de las Casas. With the exception of Christopher Columbus, BartolomÉ de las Casas is arguably the most notable figure of the Encounter Age. He is remembered principally as the author of the Black Legend, as well as the protector of American Indians. He was one of the pioneers of the human rights movement, and a Christian activist who invoked law and Biblical scripture to challenge European colonialism in the great age of the Encounter. He was also one of the first and most thorough chroniclers of the conquest, and a biographer who saved the diary of Columbus's first voyage for posterity by transcribing it in his History of the Indies before the diary was lost. BartolomÉ de las Casas and the Defense of Amerindian Rights: A Brief History with Documents provides the most wide-ranging and concise anthology of Las Casas's writings, in translation, ever made available. It contains not only excerpts from his most well-known texts, but also his largely unavailable writings on political philosophy and law, and addresses the underappreciated aspects of his thought. Fifteen of the twenty-six documents are entirely new translations of Las Casas's writings, a number of them appearing in English for the first time. This volume focuses on his historical, political, and legal writings that address the deeply conflicted and violent sixteenth-century encounter between Europeans and indigenous peoples of the Americas. It also presents Las Casas as a more comprehensive and systematic philosophical and legal thinker than he is typically given credit for. The introduction by Lawrence A. Clayton and David M. Lantigua places these writings into a synthetic whole, tracing his advocacy for indigenous peoples throughout his career. By considering Las Casas's ideas, actions, and even regrets in tandem, readers will understand the historical dynamics of Spanish imperialism more acutely within the social-political context of the times.

A New History of Modern Latin America provides an engaging and readable narrative history of the nations of Latin America from the Wars of Independence in the nineteenth century to the democratic turn in the twenty-first. This new edition of a well-known text has been revised and updated to include the most recent interpretations of major themes in the economic, social, and cultural history of the region to show the unity of the Latin America experience while exploring the diversity of the region's geography, peoples, and cultures. It also presents substantial new material on women, gender, and race in the region. Each chapter begins with primary documents, offering glimpses into moments in history and setting the scene for the chapter, and concludes with timelines and key words to reinforce content. Discussion questions are included to help students with research assignments and papers. Both professors and students will find its narrative, chronological approach a useful guide to the history of this important area of the world.

The Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas (1485–1566) was a prominent chronicler of the early Spanish conquest of the Americas, a noted protector of the American Indians and arguably the most significant figure in the early Spanish Empire after Christopher Columbus. Following an epiphany in 1514, Las Casas fought the Spanish control of the Indies for the rest of his life, writing vividly about the brutality of the Spanish conquistadors. Once a settler and exploiter of the American Indians, he became their defender, breaking ground for the modern human rights movement. Las Casas brought his understanding of Christian scripture to the forefront in his defense of the Indians, challenging the premise that the Indians of the New World were any less civilized or capable of practising Christianity than Europeans. Bartolomé de las Casas: A Biography is the first major English-language and scholarly biography of Las Casas' life in a generation.

"Badly needed updated history of Peruvian-US relations from the series edited by Lester Langley on Latin American-US relations. Traces evolution of diplomatic, military and economic relations between the two nations from independence to late in second term of Fujimori presidency. Emphasizes dominant economic impact of such corporate giants as Cerro de Pasco, Grace, and the International Petroleum Company. Especially interesting and innovative sections of the study are discussions of 'company towns,' the Cornell University Vicos agrarian project (begun in the early 1950s), and the folksy critique of the Fujimori government's drug policy. Offers a highly useful bibliographical essay that will be helpful to both specialist and student alike, in which pertinent web sites are included. Well-suited for classroom use"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.http://www.loc.gov/hlas/