Bartolome de las Casas was originally form the West Indies who became a priest and took part in the conquest of Cuba. He was the first to expose the oppression of native peoples by Europeans in the Americas and to call for the abolition of slavery there. He portrayed the Spanish treatment of the native peoples of the Indies as violent in which they murdered, persecuted, and tormented the natives. The Spanish mistreated them because they were spreading religion and they weren’t following Spanish law. Since the Spanish mistreated the natives the population went from 3 million to around 200, leaving Cuba inhabited. Antonia de Montesinos O.P.’s sermon argued that he was telling the Spanish people that they were all in a mortal sin for treating the natives that way. The people of Hispaniola responded to Montesinos’ words in fear.…show more content… He believed that it was better for a ruler to be feared over loved since fear is much more predictable and typically does not wear off. Although, a ruler should avoid being hated and despised at all costs. He also believed that a ruler should not keep his word to do he would be going against his interest. A ruler should also be more interested in their appearances as the crowd is typically won over more easily by them. A ruler should cultivate the qualities of generosity, mercy, loyalty, moderation, and devotion. Machiavelli’s underlying view of human nature was that they are greedy and selfish and willing to turn against you if needed. Machiavelli’s view of fortune is like a force of nature. It is like a river that seems uncontrollable and yet can only be tamed and directed by human
