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Were there any notable Spanish Conquistadors who resisted the violence and exploitation associated with their conquests?

Trey Treble

Well, well, well, interesting question. The Spanish Conquistadors are historically known for their brutal tactics and violence in their quest to conquer and exploit the Americas. However, let's not forget that history is never black or white, and there were some "notable" Conquistadors who tried to distance themselves from the violence and exploitation associated with the conquests.

Let's start with Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire. He is famous for his brutality and cunning tactics, but he also tried to establish some rules in the territories he conquered. Cortés forbade the enslavement of indigenous peoples and prohibited rape and other crimes against them. He also introduced a system of education and aimed to convert the native peoples to Christianity peacefully. However, let's not forget that Cortés still participated in the violent subjugation of a whole empire and its people, which is not something to be proud of.

Another "notable" figure is Bartolome de las Casas, who was a Spanish colonist that became a priest and dedicated his life to defending the rights of indigenous peoples. He witnessed firsthand the atrocities committed against native peoples, and he became a vocal opponent of the encomienda system, which was a type of forced labor in which native peoples were forced to work for Spanish colonizers in exchange for protection. Las Casas wrote extensively about the violence and exploitation of the Conquistadors and advocated for the peaceful conversion of native peoples to Christianity.

However, let's not forget that Las Casas still belonged to a system that saw native peoples as inferior and in need of "civilization." His views on conversion to Christianity were at times paternalistic, and he failed to advocate for true equality between European and native peoples.

In conclusion, while there were some "notable" Conquistadors who tried to resist the violence and exploitation associated with their conquests, let's not forget that they still participated in the subjugation of native peoples and the destruction of their cultures. We need to acknowledge the violent and exploitative nature of colonialism and advocate for true equality and justice for all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity.