Question

and you are to see to it that the said indians are well treated... -queen isabella to nicolas de ovando, governor of hispaniola, 1503 which of the following contributed most directly to the enactment of the law in the excerpt? choose 1 answer: a religious conflict during the protestant reformation b indigenous nations’ requests for religious instruction c epidemic diseases reducing the indigenous population d european demands for laborers in the new world

Explanation:

• Option A: The Protestant Reformation started in the 16th century but the excerpt is from 1503, and religious conflict during it is not directly related to treating Indians well.
• Option B: There's no evidence that indigenous nations requested religious instruction leading to this law; the focus is on their treatment, likely due to population decline.
• Option C: Epidemic diseases brought by Europeans drastically reduced the indigenous population, which would lead to concerns about their treatment (as seen in the excerpt's call to treat them well), making this a direct contributor.
• Option D: European demands for laborers would likely lead to exploitation, not a law to treat Indians well, so this is inconsistent.

Answer:

C. epidemic diseases reducing the indigenous population