The Unheard Voice of Law in Bartolom de Las Casass Brevsima Relacin de la Destruicin de las Indias

The Unheard Voice of Law in Bartolom de las Casass Brevsima relacin de la destruicin de las Indias reinterprets Las Casass controversial treatise as a legal document, whose legal character is linked to civil and ecclesial genres of the Early Modern and late Renaissance juridical tradition. Bartolom de las Casas proclaimed: "I have labored to inquire about, study, and discern the law; I have plumbed the depths and have reached the headwaters." The Unheard Voice also plumbs the depths of Las Casass voice of law in his widely read and highly controversial Brevsima relacina legal document published and debated since the 16th century. This original reinterpretation of his Very Brief Account uncovers the juridical approach voiced in his defense of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Unheard Voice innovatively asserts that the Brevsima relacins legal character is intimately linked to civil and ecclesial genres of the late Renaissance juridical tradition. This paradigm-shifting book contextualizes the formation of Las Casass juridical voice in canon law and theologyinitially as a secular cleric, subsequently as a Dominican friar, and finally as a diocesan bishopand demonstrates how his experienced juridical voice fought for justice in trans-Atlantic debates about Indigenous peoples level of humanity, religious freedom, enslavement, and conquest. Reaching the headwaters of Las Casass hitherto unheard juridical voice of law in the Brevsima relacin provides readers with a previously unheard interpretationan appealing voice for readers and students of this powerful Early Modern text that still resonates today. The Unheard Voice of Law is a valuable companion text for many in the disciplines of literature, history, theology, law, and philosophy who read Bartolom de las Casass Very Brief Account and study his life, labor, and legacy.