Historia de las Indias (vol. 3 de 5)

The third volume continues Las Casas’s meticulous chronicle of the first decades of Spanish expansion in the New World. It brings the reader into the turbulent aftermath of Columbus’s voyages, describing the provisional rule of Bobadilla, the return of the admiral to court, and the appointment of new governors such as the brave Fray Nicolás de Ovando. The narrative also follows exploratory forays along the Caribbean coast, from the perilous landing in Veragua to the early encounters on the shores of Cuba, offering a vivid portrait of the islands as they first entered European maps.

Beyond the battles and voyages, the work turns to the moral crisis that erupted among the colonists. The sermons of Fray Antonio Montesino and the subsequent Burgos ordinances reveal a growing, though contested, concern for the welfare of the indigenous peoples. Las Casas records the heated debates, the harsh realities of the encomienda system, and the surprising news of Juan Ponce de León’s discovery of Florida, all while maintaining his characteristic blend of detailed observation and passionate advocacy.