How did Spanish monks Bartolomé de Las Casas and Gerónimo de Mendieta respond to the devastation caused by Eurasian diseases in the Americas?
Bartolomé de Las Casas and Gerónimo de Mendieta, both Spanish monks, had different responses to the devastation caused by Eurasian diseases in the Americas.
Bartolomé de Las Casas was a Dominican friar who witnessed the horrors inflicted upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the devastating impact of diseases brought by the Europeans. Las Casas is known for his extensive writings and advocacy for the rights of Indigenous peoples. In response to the devastation caused by diseases, Las Casas argued that it was unjust for the Spanish colonizers to use diseases as a means to conquer and control the native populations. He believed that the suffering of Indigenous peoples should be alleviated and proposed fair treatment and protection for them under Spanish rule.
Gerónimo de Mendieta, a Franciscan friar, also witnessed the impact of diseases on the Indigenous populations. However, Mendieta's response differed from Las Casas. He saw the diseases as an inevitable consequence of the encounter between two distant worlds and believed that they were ultimately part of God's plan for the colonization and conversion of the Americas. Mendieta saw the diseases as a divine punishment for the supposed idolatry and sins of Indigenous peoples. He argued that the devastation caused by diseases should be seen as an opportunity to bring Christianity to the Americas.
In summary, while Bartolomé de Las Casas advocated for the protection and fair treatment of Indigenous peoples affected by diseases, Gerónimo de Mendieta believed that the diseases were a part of God's plan for the colonization and conversion of the Americas.