What were relations between the Spanish and indigenous Americans like? Contrast the views of Europeans of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with those of Native Americans and Africans they encountered on such topics as the environment, social relations, religious beliefs, and slavery. What purpose do words like "savage," "heathen," or "barbarian" serve? Explain.

Respuesta :

The relationship between the Spaniards and the Native Americans began to be friendly in several regions of America, but it soon began to be hostile, since the natives did not want to hand over the domination of their lands to the Spanish, who decided to take them by force. In addition, the Spaniards brought many diseases that the organism of the natives could not defend itself, which greatly weakened the native tribes and allowed Spanish violence to advance on them.

The Spaniards saw Native Americans and Africans in a similar way. They believed that both were inferior and unworthy, but the Indians were savages, pagans and barbarians, had unworthy social relations and false religious beliefs, but were not to be enslaved. First because, because they knew the territory well, the Indians managed to escape, they managed to make rebellions with their companions. Furthermore, for the Catholic Church, Indians had souls and it was forbidden to enslave what had souls. In this case, the role of the Spaniards turned to convert these souls to Christianity and not to enslave them.

Africans, on the other hand, were viewed differently. Although they were also seen as pagans, the Catholic Church allowed their enslavement, as they considered that Africans had no soul and were like irrational, violent animals and a danger to society, and it was up to the white man to dominate and enslave them as they understood.