Dai fatti alla Storia - volume 1

The Discovery of New Worlds CIVICS The Meeting of Different Cultures After the discovery of the Americas different ideas about the people that lived there, the indigenous people, were discussed. Here are the two opposing positions. The first one, which expressed hate and disdain towards the native Americans, was expressed in 1524 by a missionary priest named Tommaso Ortiz. The second one, full of commendation and compassion, has been taken from the book A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de Las Casas, who spent his life in defence of the peoples of the West Indies. He was the first to assert that they had the same rights as Spaniards. The American Indians as Beasts Tommaso Ortiz Men in the mainland on the West Indies [...] go around naked, they do not feel love nor shame, they are like donkeys, stupid, idiots, dumb; they do not care to kill or to be killed; they do not observe the truth except when it is for their advantage; they are fickle and do not know what a decision is. [...] They love to get drunk; [...] they are like beasts in their vices. The young do not have any obedience or attention for the old men, nor the sons for their fathers; they are unable to learn or to improve themselves. They are traitors, cruel and vindictive and never forgive. They are very hostile towards religion, lazy, thieves, liars, mean and close-minded in their judgments, they do not observe faith nor order. Goodness of the American Indians Bartolomé de Las Casas All these people were created by God without evil and without duplicity, very obedient to their natural lords and to the Christians, whom they serve. They are the most modest, patient, pacific and quiet people in the world, they have neither disputes, nor riots, nor fights, nor moanings, resentments, hate nor projects of revenge. They also are very poor, and they do not want to possess goods; for this reason they are not proud, arrogant and greedy. Their intellect is limpid, clear and sharp. ACTIVITY 6.A Pair work 1. In each of the above texts underline the expressions used to describe the American populations. 2. What possible consequences could derive from the different opinions expressed in the texts? Draw a T-chart with two columns, one for negative consequences and one for positive consequences. Then insert the following words into the correct column. discrimination charges of violence respect for the population exploitation slavery cultural respect demographic collapse cultural devastation forced conversions conversion without the use of weapons The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. It is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. ACTIVITY 6.B Research Group work 1. Form groups of four students. 2. Go to the following website https://www.un.org/en and search the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 3. Read Article 1, Article 3 and Article 4. Use a dictionary to translate them. 4. In your group discuss the human rights violations that may exist in your school, your local area or in your country. 5. Write a text (120-150 words) where you describe one case and propose a plan of action to face the problem. 585 77636R_0000E01_INTE_BAS@0585.pgs 15.09.2021 15:02

Dai fatti alla Storia - volume 1
Dai fatti alla Storia - volume 1
Dal Medioevo all’Età moderna