Today in History: The Laws of Burgos

On this day (December 27) in 1512 the Kingdom of Castile promulgated the Laws of Burgos to regulate the treatment of the native population in its new world territory. There are 35 rules in the document and are mostly concerned with converting the natives to Catholicism (a mission which many Spanish believed explained why God had permitted them to discover and colonize the new world). The laws also regulated the work, pay, housing, hygiene and care of the natives, as well as limiting the punishment of natives to Spanish officials. The tone is surprisingly protective of the natives, especially when one considers the abuses which we know were happening.