1.Give a short account of Las Casas’ background. Why did he go to the Indies? What did he do there? How long did he stay there? How widely did he travel? Would we consider him a knowledgeable observer of events in Spanish America? Why did he decide to enter the Dominican Order?

2.Why did he write the Short History? Who was his audience? What did he hope would be accomplished by writing the work?

3.Do you think the Short History is a credible account of what actually happened in Spanish America? What aspects of the text suggest that the events described actually happened? Are there aspects of the text which suggest that Las Casas exaggerated or made up events?

4.According to Las Casas, by what techniques did the Spaniards conquer and destroy “the Indies”? Why did the Spaniards behave in this way?

5.How did the native peoples respond to the treatment of the Spaniards? Why couldn’t they mount more effective resistance to the conquistadors?

6.For many in Latin America,Las Casas is admired as a hero. Why would that be the case? Does he deserve admiration for his work? Why? Why not?

7.“The longer men have operated in the New World and the more they have become accustomed to the carnage and butchery around them, the more brutal and more wicked have been the crimes they commit against God and their fellow men.” Is this a valid explanation as to why the atrocities appear to get worse as the account goes on?

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