THE OVERCOMING OF THE CONTROVERSY OF THE CONQUEST: ABOUT CONFRONTATION SEPÚLVEDA-LAS CASAS TO THE ACOSTA’S PROPOSALS

Abstract

The process of engagement and awareness of Spanish society on the conquest of America in the first half of the
sixteenth century completes in the Board of Valladolid (1550-1551). During that period, the existence of two
parties who have radically different views of Indians affairs will lead to two ways of conceiving the natives of the
New World and two proposals for action competing with each other in relation to them; besides, a memory of
what was done emerges, in which the analysis about the actions of the conquistadors and encomenderos are
also valuated from irreconcilable perspectives. After the discussion of Sepúlveda-Las Casas, the overcoming of
these controversial visions and the back to a path of consensus which poses the beginning of the colonial period
will be expressed in the writings of the Jesuit José de Acosta.