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Emily Cox
Dr. A and Dr. J
Integrated Humanities II - Block B
9 March 2016
Worthless
In the middle of the second millennium AD, during the Age of Expansion,
Spanish and Portuguese explorers sought to expand the domains of their empires. They
traveled to many different countries and in doing so, they encountered a variety of nonChristians. These explorers ended up developing economic plantation systems, sugar
islands, and the institution of slavery. Millions of Africans were brought to the Caribbean
forced to adopt their customs and work in hellish conditions without pay. By
fundamentally trivializing, dominating and degrading non-Europeans, the Europeans
justified the practice of enslavement.
First, the indigenous people of the New World were trivialized by the Europeans.
In Document 5, Columbus claims that the native peoples were very simple when it comes
to the use of arms and were not very warlike; however, in the annotation, it is stated that
the Caribs were not who Columbus originally assumed. They have no arms, and are
without warlike instincts; they all go naked, and are so timid that a thousand would not
stand before three of our men [T]he Indians, especially the Caribs, were not as timid
or as easily dominated as Columbus originally thought (Reading 5, p. 1). This quotation
shows that Columbus thought the native peoples were weak and could be easily
conquered, hence showing how he saw them as trivial. Another piece of evidence that
exemplifies the trivialization of Africans by the Spanish is in Document 6, where Alonzo

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de Zuazo insists, slavery is essential to European development (p. 1). [B]ring away as
many male and female Negroes as possible, newly imported and between the ages of
fifteen to eighteen or twenty years [T]he burden of work of the Indians will be eased
and unlimited amounts of gold will be mined (Reading 6, p. 1). It is clear from this
excerpt that the Spanish were particularly cavalier when it comes to their opinions on
enslavement, therefore absolving their greed for gold. All of this evidence proves that
through portraying the Africans as less, it was significantly easier for Europeans to
enslave and dehumanize them.
In addition to being trivialized, the Non-Christians were also dominated by the
Europeans. [S]ugar drove more than 900,000 people into slavery, across the Atlantic, to
Barbados and Jamaicaand these were just two of the sugar islands (Reading 1A, p.
32). The desire for sugar is quite explicit in this specific quotationin order to satisfy the
need for sugar, there had to be a large productionleading to extreme growth in slavery.
This evidence epitomizes that Europeans did not value the people of the New
World/enslaved Africans whom they encountered at this time in any way; they were
simply objects that allowed them to produce more sugar. This is certainly not the only
strategy for how the Europeans dominated others; they also used their religion to assert
dominance. [S]eeing that there are some men [w]ho continue to persecute the followers
of God, justifies King Dom Joo in his initiative to attack the infidels in Africa
(Reading 4, p. 31). King Dom Joao is getting the support of Pope Eugene IV, leader of
the Christian faith, to justify him taking Cueta by force. In this quote, the Spanish
Christians refer to the Africans who do not follow their religion as infidels; this kind of
language is dehumanizing and shows that by referring to the Africans as less, it is easier

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to dominate and conquer them. The last example that represents Spanish domination is
located in Document 3. But, if you do not do this, and maliciously make delay in it, I
certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter into your country, and
shall [t]ake you and your wives and your children, and shall make slaves of them
(Reading 3, p. 57). The Spanish were determined to stay dominant and powerful, even if
it means taking others families, enslaving them and abusing anyone who could
potentially threaten that dominance. As shown, the Spanish believed that they were
superior and had the right to destroy anyone who questioned or did not follow them.
Finally, and most importantly, the Non-Christians were degraded by the
Europeans. The following quote in Document 1A undoubtedly emphasizes slave work:
He judged each step, deciding when to pour the juice from one kettle to
another, when it was ready for the next stage. His work led to one precise
moment: when the syrup was so thick, and yet clean, that it was time to
strike. [T]he sugar slaves could hardly rest even when their day was
done (Reading 1A, p. 36-41).
There is a lot of skill and precision required when it comes to producing sugar. The slaves
had meticulous work, and the fact that they could hardly rest after their day was done
shows how little the slave owners valued them. An alternative quote that embodies the
abhorrent practice of slavery is also in Document 1A, But he had absolute power over
his slaves, male and female. So he took any woman he wanted. By his own count, he was
involved with 138 enslaved women. Neither the women nor their husbands, brothers, or
parents had any choice in the matter (Reading 1A, p. 59). The relationship between the
slave and his slave owners in this quotation is truly revolting. The use of the words
involved and by his own count implies that there was a lack of emotional connection
and that the slave master was proud of what happened, further objectifying the slaves and

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taking away from humanity. In addition to the slaves being treated horribly, it was also
nearly impossible to escape and find freedom. Liberty is the power which every man has
by nature to do what he wishes, except where the force or right of law or fuero does not
prevent him (Reading 2, p. 27). This quote shows that slaves can only become free
under very specific circumstances, thus implicitly condoning the practice of slavery. The
lawmakers were trying to make sure the slaves could not find any loopholes because if
there were not so many detailed rules, the amount of free slaves would rapidly increase.
Instead of actually helping the slaves to become free, the lawmakers are only giving the
power to the idea and practice of slavery. This only goes to show that you can use
anything to justify treating people poorly.
Indeed, the institution of slavery was a heinous occurrence. However, by
ultimately trivializing, dominating and degrading Non-Europeans, the Europeans justified
the practice of enslavement. Anyone can exculpate treating people poorly, whether it is
with status, wealth or religion. In the case of the people of the New World, the Europeans
dehumanized them to justify treating them in such an appalling manner. I believe that
instead of treating the people of the New World in horrid manners, it would have been
more humane to approach them to become allies and pay them to do labor. The Spanish
were asute to make sure the work needed to expand their empires got done, however it
was not a good idea to dehumanize others in the process.

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