Conquest and Morality
nThe Spanish conquest and treatment of Indians raised significant moral issues.
nWas conquest, exploitation, and conversion justified?
•Many answered that Indians were not fully human.
•Converting Indians to Christianity was a necessary.
•In 1550 the Spanish ruler convoked a commission to rule on such issues.
nFather Bartolomé de Las Casas defended the Indians, recognized them as humans, and argued that conversion had to be accomplished peacefully.
nThe result was a moderation of the worst abuses, but the decision came too late to help most Indians.
