The following questions refer to the excerpt below.
"[Spaniards'] reason for killing and destroying such an infinite number of souls is that the Christians have an ultimate aim,which is to acquire gold,and to swell themselves with riches in a very brief time and thus rise to a high estate disproportionate to their merits. It should be kept in mind that their insatiable greed and ambition,the greatest ever seen in the world,is the cause of their villainies.And also,those lands are so rich and felicitous,the native people so meek and patient,so easy to subject,that our Spaniards have no more consideration for them than beasts."
Bartolomé de las Casas,A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies,1552
-Which of the following historical events preceded the events described by de las Casas?
A) The Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the Americas
B) New sources of mineral wealth led to the rise of capitalism in the European economy
C) The Atlantic slave trade declined in popularity
D) Europeans accepted the political autonomy of Native Americans

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The excerpt is describing the actions of the Spanish in the Americas, which occurred during the same time period as the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the Americas. Option B is partially correct, as the acquisition of gold did contribute to the rise of capitalism in Europe, but it does not directly relate to the events described in the excerpt. Options C and D are incorrect, as the Atlantic slave trade did not decline until centuries later, and Europeans did not generally accept the political autonomy of Native Americans during this time period.

The Following Questions Refer to the Excerpt Below