jan 1, 1542 - The Second Democrates

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The excerpt from The Second Democrates allows for a more in-depth understanding of the perspective of the Spaniards and their defense of their exploitative actions. The excerpt displays the common European sentiment of hierarchal superiority over the non-European “barbarous” people, as well as a sentiment that it is the burden of the civilized Europeans to force “civilized” life and customs upon them. It also lays out a biblical basis for the argument as well as an additional statement that war is justified if the teachings of civilization are rejected. These statements provide an understanding of the importance of religion in the reasoning of actions and life for the majority of the Spanish, their hierarchal racially biased perspectives on humanity, and the belief of the need to educate those perceived to be inferior, thus characterizing the views of those who pushed back against the New Laws of 1542.

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