How did Spanish monks Bartolome de Las Casas and Geronimo de Mendieta respond to the devastation caused by Eurasian diseases in the Americas?

Question

A. They used the devastation as evidence to stop the advancement of Spanish armies
B. they successfully nursed communities back to health
C. they made records of the devastation and believed God was punishing the Spanish for their behavior
D. they praised God for conquering their greatest enemy

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. they made records of the devastation and believed God was punishing the Spanish for their behavior. Bartolomé de Las Casas and Gerónimo de Mendieta both documented the impact of European diseases on Indigenous populations and expressed concern over the moral implications of the Spanish conquest and treatment of Indigenous peoples. Las Casas, in particular, argued that the suffering of Native peoples could be seen as a reflection of divine disapproval of Spanish actions.