Columbus and Bartolome de las Casas had different views on the Spanish treatment of Native Americans. Columbus believed that the Spanish had a divine mandate to conquer and colonize the Americas, and he saw the indigenous peoples as being primitive and in need of Christian conversion. Las Casas, on the other hand, was a Spanish friar who became an advocate for the indigenous peoples, and he believed they had the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
Despite their different views, there are some similarities and differences between Columbus's and Las Casas' views on the Spanish treatment of Native Americans:
Similarity:
1. Both Columbus and Las Casas recognized the importance of the indigenous peoples to the Spanish colonial enterprise. Columbus saw them as a source of labor, while Las Casas argued that they were potential converts to Christianity.
Difference:
1. Columbus believed that the indigenous peoples were inferior to the Spanish and needed to be "civilized," whereas Las Casas saw them as equals deserving of humane treatment.
2. Columbus condoned the use of violence and coercion to subjugate the indigenous peoples. At the same time, Las Casas was an outspoken critic of such practices and called for the protection of their rights.
Overall, while Columbus and Las Casas both recognized the importance of the indigenous peoples to the Spanish colonial project, their views on how they should be treated differed significantly. Columbus saw them as a means to an end, while Las Casas recognized their inherent value as human beings.