How did the Spanish treatment of Indigenous people improve over time? (1 point)

Answer 1

One point to consider is that Spanish treatment of Indigenous people did not uniformly improve over time. While there were some efforts to mitigate the harsh treatment of Indigenous people, overall, their treatment remained exploitative and oppressive.

Some points that could be mentioned include:

1. Intercultural Exchange: As Spanish colonizers settled in the Americas, there was some exchange of culture, language, and knowledge between the Spanish and Indigenous people. This resulted in the creation of a new mestizo population, blending Spanish and Indigenous cultures.

2. Religious Conversion: The Spanish brought Christianity to the Americas and attempted to convert the Indigenous population. The establishment of missions provided some Indigenous people with education, access to trade, and protection against other colonizers.

3. Legal Protections: In response to reports of abuse and mistreatment of Indigenous people by Spanish colonizers, laws known as the New Laws and the Leyes de Indias were passed in the 16th century. These laws aimed to protect Indigenous people and regulate the behavior of Spanish settlers by recognizing Indigenous rights and limiting their exploitation.

4. Community Consolidation: Some Indigenous communities managed to maintain their autonomy and preserve their land. Spanish authorities recognized some Indigenous leaders and allowed them to continue their hierarchical structures, which helped preserve their cultural practices and traditions.

It is important to note, however, that these improvements were limited and often outweighed by continued mistreatment and exploitation. Indigenous populations were still subjected to forced labor, displacement, enslavement, violence, and diseases brought by the colonizers. The overall treatment of Indigenous people by the Spanish remained oppressive and resulted in the decimation of their populations.