A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies

Las Casas titles this text an account, not a history. Why do you think he used this specific word to describe his text? Support your argument with references from the text.

Las Casas begins A Short Account with this sentence: “Everything that has happened since the marvelous discovery of the Americas—from the short-lived initial attempts of the Spanish to settle there, right down to the present day—has been so extraordinary that the whole story remains quite incredible to anyone who has not experienced it at first hand” (20). At first glance this seems to be a positive take on the history of colonization. Why would Las Casas start his work with such a sentence? Consider who the text was written for in your response.

There are two types of law running throughout A Short Account: divine and imperial. Both inform Las Casas arguments. How does the author use these two precedents? Are there any points in the text where the two seem to collide? Use examples to support your answer.