ESPM 3001/5001
Robert Gilmer
Questions for Chapters 2 and 3 of A Long and Terrible Shadow
02/16/08

Discussion questions:

1. Who was Las Casas and what enabled him to have a voice in imperial policy?
2. What political restraints limited the effectiveness of Las Casas’ pleas? How were Charles V’s hands somewhat tied in changing imperial policy to bring it more into line with Las Casas’ arguments?
3. What were the arguments presented by Las Casas and Sepulveda? Who did each man draw on to support their arguments? In what ways does Berger suggest that Las Casas and Sepulveda share common beliefs?
4. Berger suggests that these debates have continued on to this day. In what ways do you see these same issues playing out in relation to disputes over natural resources and Indian rights?
5. In what ways does Berger suggest that disease shaped the way colonization occurred? What impacts did these diseases have on Indian communities? How did Europeans perceive the outbreaks of these diseases? What advantages did it give them? Do you agree with Berger’s interpretation of the impact of disease on Spanish colonization?
6. How does Berger link government assimilation programs to the social problems and modern illnesses in Indian communities today? What, if any, solutions does he see to this problem?

In both of these chapters Berger draws heavily from secondary sources to support his arguments. While he points out the discrepancy between some of his sources (particularly over population statistics), how might this limit the usefulness of his work? Would it have strengthened his work to have incorporated more primary sources

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