Question

bartolome de las casas and juan gines de sepulveda
these people are the most guileless, the most devoid of wickedness and
duplicity, the most obedient and faithful to their native masters and to the
spanish christians whom they serve. they are by nature the most humble,
patient, and peaceable, holding no grudges, free from embroilments, neither
excitable nor quarrelsome.
they are... very apt to receive our holy catholic faith, to be endowed with
virtuous customs, and to behave in a godly fashion. yet into this sheepfold,
into the land of meek outcasts there came some spaniards who immediately
behaved like ravening wild beasts, wolves, tigers, or lions that had been
starved for many days.”
—de las casas, bartolome. an account, much abbreviated, of the destruction of the indies with
selected texts. ed. franklin knight trans. andrew hurley. n.p.: hackett, 2003. print.
the spanish have a perfect right to rule these barbarians of the new world
and the adjacent islands, who in prudence, skill, virtues, and humanity are as
inferior to the spanish as children to adults, or women to men; for there exists
between the two as great a difference as between savage and cruel races and
the most merciful; between the most intemperate lacking in self - control and
the moderate and temperate, and, i might even say, between apes and men.”
—sepulveda, juan gines de. democritus ii, or concerning the just causes of the war against
the indians?
both las casas and sepulveda most likely shared which of the following goals?
select one answer
a converting the native americans to christianity
b undermining the authority of the spanish king
c criticizing the behavior of some spanish officials in the new world
d advocating the use of enslaved africans in the new world

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the quotes. Las Casas describes Native Americans as obedient, peaceful, and apt to receive the Catholic faith. Sepulveda's quote (though critical of Natives' humanity) doesn't directly oppose conversion. Option A is about converting Natives to Christianity, which aligns with the religious context of Spanish colonization and the tone of Las Casas' view (and even Sepulveda's framework of Spanish rule including religious aspects). Option B is incorrect as neither quote undermines Spanish authority. Option C: Sepulveda's quote is critical of Natives, not Spanish officials. Option D: The quotes don't discuss enslaved Africans. So A is the best fit.

Answer:

A. Converting the Native Americans to Christianity