Valladolid Debate

The Valladolid Debate, held in 1550-1551 in Spain, was a significant discussion concerning the treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Key figures, including the Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas and the philosopher Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, debated whether the indigenous population should be treated as rational human beings deserving of rights or as natural slaves. This debate highlighted moral and ethical considerations of colonization, human rights, and the justification of conquest. Ultimately, it influenced European attitudes towards indigenous peoples and shaped policies regarding colonization and imperialism in the New World.