Brevisima Relacion de la Destruccion de Las Indias
by Fray Bartolomé de las Casas
83% recommend17% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Firsthand 1552 account by a Spanish friar documenting colonial abuses of Indigenous peoples in the Americas; cited as essential primary-source reading on the conquest for anyone studying colonialism or its history.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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> I recommend you to read history. There was no genocide in Cuba Perhaps your history is written by Spaniards. I notice you didn't give any specific books to read. I'll do you a favour. Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Brevisima-relacion-destruicion-Humani... The cover is "A 16th-century illustration by Flemish Protestant Theodor de Bry for Las Casas's Brevisima relación de la destrucción de la
on “Havana celebrates 500 years of foundation” ↗As Marxist as I tend to be, I view banning media outright is counterproductive. It lifts that work up an ideological martyr and encourages seeking it. If you disagree with an ideology, then dissect it intellectually and reveal the full history of why it is suboptimal. 2 books worth reading: 1. "The People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn 2. Brevísima relación de la destrucción de
on “Protest song vanishes from Spotify, Apple Music ahead of government ban” ↗A book? I can’t color between the lines on this one, maybe I can’t read between them either. Here’s 3: Collapse by Jared Diamond The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias (English: A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies ) by Bartolomé de las Casas
on “Ask HN: What is your comfort book?” ↗A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (Original title: Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias) 1552, Bartolomé de las Casas. The genocide by the Spanish of directly and indirectly ~110M indigenous peoples and African slaves in the Americas needs a "Holocaust"-type unique name.
on “Ask HN: What book bit, stung and shook you deeply?” ↗Nothing needs to be destroyed or reinvented, only returned to common-sense and integrity. There are essentially no new ideas. - Everyman's Library Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is worth having. - A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies / Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias is another title important to understand what happened in the Americas as well as slaves take
on “The Books We Can Use to Rebuild Civilization” ↗There’s nothing magical or sacred about a particular medium, but the internet doesn’t contain all human knowledge, it doesn’t contain much of past human knowledge and it rarely preserves knowledge through archival. This is concerning because future generations may give up on history and/or give up on preservation/archival. i. Try short books at first. ii. Take frequent breaks (short and sometime
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗Focus on history books around events and people, not theological works. The Vedic period. The decline of Rome and rise of Christianity from Judaism. Scandinavia's gradual conversion from paganism to Christianity. Charlemagne, the Great Schism and the Holy Roman Empire. Late Vedic period when Romani left N. India. Dhimmi of the Caliphates and Ottoman Empire. Massacre of the Cathars. First S
on “Ask HN: What's the Best Book on Religion” ↗