Bartolomé de las Casas

Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish Dominican friar, historian, and bishop who became one of the most prominent defenders of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Drawing on his experiences in the Spanish colonies, he wrote forcefully against abuses by colonial officials and landowners and helped shape the New Laws of 1542. His historical and polemical works remain important sources for studying Spanish conquest, colonial policy, and debates over Indigenous rights.