The Natural and Moral History of the Indies

José de Acosta’s The Natural and Moral History of the Indies, first published in 1590, represents a pivotal work in early ethnography and a significant attempt to understand the New World through a framework informed by Aristotelian philosophy and Christian theology. The work examines the geography, flora, fauna, and, most importantly, the peoples of the Americas. Acosta, a Jesuit missionary who spent considerable time in Peru, moves beyond simple descriptions of customs, instead attempting to explain why Indigenous societies were structured as they were, frequently comparing and contrasting them with European societies.

What the Book Explores

Acosta’s exploration is multi-faceted. He details the natural environment of the Indies – the climate, altitude, and their effects on both the land and its inhabitants. This leads into an examination of Indigenous character and social structures. He investigates their governance, religious beliefs, economic systems, and daily lives. Crucially, Acosta doesn’t merely report; he interprets. He attempts to account for perceived differences between Europeans and Indigenous peoples, often attributing them to environmental factors – a nascent form of environmental determinism. He discusses the impact of Spanish colonization, both positive (conversion to Christianity) and negative (exploitation and disease). He also wrestles with the question of Indigenous rationality, attempting to reconcile their practices with Christian doctrine. A considerable portion of the work details the intricacies of Indigenous calendars and methods of calculation, demonstrating a high level of sophistication that challenges European preconceptions.

Historical / Cultural Context

This work emerged during a period of intense European exploration and colonization. The Spanish conquest of the Americas had raised fundamental questions about the nature of humanity, the legitimacy of empire, and the relationship between Christianity and other belief systems. Acosta’s writing is deeply embedded in this context. He wasn’t writing in a vacuum; he was responding to existing accounts of the Indies, often critical of their inaccuracies or biases. The book reflects the intellectual currents of the Renaissance, blending classical learning with contemporary observation. The very act of systematically documenting Indigenous cultures was itself a product of the era’s burgeoning scientific spirit, even if that spirit was still heavily influenced by religious worldview. It’s crucial to understand that Acosta wrote from the perspective of a Spanish Catholic missionary, and his analysis is shaped by that worldview. However, his willingness to engage with Indigenous perspectives, even while seeking to convert them, makes his work unusually nuanced for its time.

Who This Book Is For

This book is valuable for those interested in the history of ethnography, the early encounters between Europe and the Americas, and the intellectual history of the Renaissance and the Counter-Reformation. It will appeal to readers with interests in anthropology, history, religious studies, and colonial studies. While the language can be challenging for modern readers, editions with extensive notes provide necessary context. It is less suited for those seeking a straightforward narrative of Indigenous cultures, as Acosta’s primary goal is interpretive rather than purely descriptive.

Michel de Montaigne, Cannibals (1580): A contemporaneous essay that also questions European assumptions about non-European cultures.
Bernardino de Sahagún, Florentine Codex (1575-1577): A comprehensive ethnography of the Aztecs, compiled with the help of Indigenous informants.
Bartolomé de las Casas, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552): A scathing indictment of Spanish colonial practices.