Research Catalog

Title

Bartolomé de las Casas : great prophet of the Americas / Paul S. Vickery.

Author

Vickery, Paul S.

Publication

New York : Paulist Press, c2006.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

vi, 205 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

"Bartolome de las Casas (1484-1566) came to the New World in pursuit of material wealth, became virtually a slave owner, and ended up suddenly and dramatically turning his life around to become a Dominican friar and the first great champion of the Native Americans. Daring to challenge the Spanish encontienda system, which was little more than a justification of forced labor, Las Casas, in the spirit of the great Hebrew Prophets, spoke out unequivocally for justice and freedom for oppressed peoples. His The Only Way, which argued that the native peoples of the Americas are fully human, can rightly be called one of the seminal documents of American Catholic social justice." "In this biography, Paul Vickery focuses especially upon Las Casas's "conversion" journey. Drawing upon Las Casas's own words and actions, Vickery describes the historical setting and specific events leading up to Las Casas's spiritual awakening and then interprets this experience in light of his message for us today. Students of history, Western civilization, and social justice will find here an original and provocative text about Colonial Latin America and Native American studies, while students of ethics will find much food for thought in its treatment of questions of conscience and the moral choices with which we are confronted."--BOOK JACKET.

Subject

• Casas, Bartolomé de las, 1484-1566
• Casas, Bartolomé de las, 1484-1566
• Explorers > America > Biography
• Explorers > Spain > Biography
• Missionaries > America > Biography
• Missionaries > Spain > Biography
• Indians, Treatment of
• America > Discovery and exploration > Spanish

Genre/Form

Biographies

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-199) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Introduction -- Las Casas and his milieu (1484-1514) -- Spain's legal and moral dilemma -- Francisco de Vitoria and the salamancan school -- The monarchy responds -- Amazing piece of sophistry -- The early years of Las Casas -- Noble Indians, or dirty dogs? -- A greater sin than the killing of insects -- The laws of Burgos -- The darkness turns to light (1514-16) -- The process of conversion begins -- The prophetic period begins -- The ministry begins (1514-22) -- The prophetic style : challenge and remedios -- Las Casas and slavery -- The monarchy responds -- The failure at Cumaná -- The message is refined and deepened (1523-42) -- The Enriquillo incident -- From land of war to land of peace -- Las Casas as bishop and beyond (1542-63) -- Back in the new world -- In defense of the Indians -- Later works of Las Casas -- The climax of Las Casas' message (1564) -- Conclusion.

ISBN

• 0809143674 (alk. paper)
• 9780809143672

LCCN

^^2005035937

OCLC

• 62728483
• SCSB-11040979

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library