Bartolomé de las Casas is best described as which of the following?

• A. A conquistador who conquered the Aztecs
• B. A young priest who transcribed Columbus's journals and criticized Spanish cruelties
• C. A king who sponsored voyages
• D. A merchant who financed expeditions

Answer: (B)

Bartolomé de las Casas is best understood as a religious reformer who spoke out against the brutal treatment of Indigenous peoples in the Spanish colonies. He was a Dominican priest who witnessed the abuses firsthand, wrote about them, and argued that Spaniards should treat Indigenous peoples humanely and protect their rights. His writings, including accounts of the destruction in the Indies, helped fuel debates about reforming colonial practices and limiting abuses like the encomienda system. He is not a conquistador, a king who sponsored voyages, or a merchant; those roles describe others from the era, not his.