Theodor de Bry. Americae pars quinta nobilis & admiratione plena Hieronymi Bezoni.
Frankfurt: 1595.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (83)
Cruelty Illustrated
Slavery has existed in societies since antiquity, but illustrations like these reinforced the belief that slavery was particularly cruel under the Spanish. Even though Emperor Charles V prohibited Indian slavery in the New Laws, the slavery of Africans continued because slave owners frequently ignored or contradicted Spanish law. Slaves often worked at mines as shown here, but some of the worst conditions were on rural estates.