Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish Dominican friar and theologian who lived from 1484 to 1566. Originally a settler in the Americas who participated in the colonial economy, he later transformed into a prominent defender of Indigenous rights. As a jurist and historian, he documented the brutal treatment of native populations by European conquistadores. He served as the Bishop of Chiapas and was officially recognized as a protector of the Indigenous peoples, dedicating much of his life to advocating for more humane colonial policies before the Spanish court.