What Was the Requerimiento - Lisbd-Net. Com

What Was The Requerimiento?

The Requerimiento (Spanish for “requirement” as in “demand”) was read to Native Americans to inform them of Spain’s rights to conquest. The Spaniards thus considered those who resisted as defying God’s plan, and so used Catholic theology to justify their conquest.

Why was the Requerimiento so important?

The Requerimiento was important for a number of reasons. First, it formally expressed Spain’s rationale behind what it believed was its legal right to conquer new lands and people. Second, it was an attempt by King Ferdinand and the Council of Castile to offer an alternative to bloodshed and extermination.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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