The Role of Bartolome de las Casas in the 16th Century Debate over Slavery in Latin America

Author

• F. Tyler Sergent, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Date of Award

1-2003

Document Type

Graduate Paper

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Monastic Studies

Department

School of Theology and Seminary

First Advisor

Helen Rolfson, OSF

Subject Categories

Religion

Abstract

This paper details the background of Bartolome de las Casas, a Spanish slave holder in Latin America who became a Dominican Friar and ardent defender of the Latin American peoples against their Spanish conquerors. In two parts this paper gives a biographical sketch of Las Casas with an attempt to understand the events in his life which lead to his positional change on slavery and also his religious conversion, both of which were inextricably related. The second part traces the intellectual background to and argumentation of the actual debate over slavery between Las Casas and his adversary Sepulveda, a renowned scholar who had written a defense for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. The debate itself was set by King Charles V at Valladolid in 1550.

Recommended Citation

Sergent, F. Tyler, "The Role of Bartolome de las Casas in the 16th Century Debate over Slavery in Latin America" (2003). School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses. 1956.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/1956