Leveled Readings / Bartolomé de las Casas: A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552)
Bartolomé de las Casas: A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552)
Bartolomé de las Casas, A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552)
These are adaptations, not the original. The original wording is always shown first. Each adapted version restates the same passage at about a grade 4, grade 7, or grade 10 reading level without adding or removing ideas. Quote the original in student writing.
Original wording
“The Spaniards first assaulted the innocent Sheep, so qualified by the Almighty, as is premention’d, like most cruel Tygers, Wolves and Lions hunger-starv’d…”
Adapted · about grade 4
Las Casas said the Spanish attacked the gentle native people like hungry, wild animals attack sheep.
Adapted · about grade 7
Las Casas wrote that the Spaniards attacked the innocent people, whom he compared to gentle sheep, like cruel tigers, wolves, and starving lions.
Adapted · about grade 10
The Spaniards first attacked these innocent sheep, so gentle by God's making, like the cruelest tigers, wolves, and starving lions.
Used in: Why did people explore, and what did their voyages bring?