Seulveda's Beliefs Summary

Sepulveda believed that the Spanish had a right to rule the new world because they were superior. He states that the Spaniards were wise, talented, humane, and religious. He branded the
Indians with such terms as barbarians, cannibals, murderers, and cowards. Sepulveda subscribed to the Aristotelian hierarchical theory on nature, which states implies a natural order of superiority. Sepulveda connects this theory by saying that the Indians' are as inferior to the
Spanish as "children to adults, or as women to men" (B­5). Sepulveda was an advocate for Indian enslavement. What he thought was because of certain things. He believed that the Indians lacked belief in the Christian God and it was the responsibility of the Spaniards to spread Christian faith
using whatever methods they felt was okay. Also Sepulveda believed that the untreated of the natives made it necessary for more refined people like the Spanish to educate and dominate
them.
Enslavement by the Spaniards protected the weaker Indians from being subjected to human sacrifice and cannibalism is another belief of Sepulvedas. He believed that it was far better for the Spaniards to rule over the Indians, as they were "cultivated of human virtues and the true faith", than to be ruled under their current form of government. Although Las Casas didn’t believe the same as said earlier.
Las Casas originally participated in the conquests against the Indians, but then began to question the ethics of the Spaniards' treatment of the Indians. He felt they were committing genocide. He believed in teaching Christianity, not ruining anyones peace with one another. Las
Casas was a visionary who believed the entire human race was just one whole. Las Casas felt that the Indians were not ignorant, although they were well­mannered and had a wealthy culture.
He also acknowledges their form of government and ability to negotiate with others. One point that Las Casas made was his similarity of the Roman taking over Spain. Las Casas states, “Thus we call such unbelievers barbarians, and they are so, because through lack of doctrine, faith and the grace which goes with them they cannot but abound in many corrupt customs and suffer
great defects in their laws and nations, as already proven for the Romans and others” (6. 214­217). He argues that the Spaniards defended themselves from the Romans who believed that they needed to be to set free from barbarism. Sharing peace within everyone was spreading Catholicism and criticizing everyone because of what they don't know was evil. He felt that the Indians were relaxed people that were easy to teach and willing to accept the Christian religion. He saw their artistic talent as part of their skill. While Las Casas and Sepulveda held opposing positions on the treatment of the Indians, they tended to agree with each other in certain areas.
Sepulveda felt that the Indians were not teachable and did not have the incentive to better themselves. He based this on their simple art and their lack of desire in over throwing a caste system. He argues that they preferred to be enslaved. This made the Spaniards superior to the
Indians. Las Casas believed that the Indians, could learn to be better. He felt that their art, music, and political systems were advanced for them.
So therefore, both Las Casas and Sepulvedas’ purpose was to spread Christianity. One focused on spreading it through peace and one focused on spreading it through subjugation of

another civilization. How they interacted with these new worlds was a matter of how they would conduct themselves in the future.