In this episode, we hear from Matthew P. Cavedon, the Robert Pool Fellow in Law and Religion at Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and a Senior Lecturer at Emory Law School.
His recent book, “From the Pope's Hands to Indigenous Lands: Alexander VI in Spanish Imperialism,” explores the historical impact of "inter caetera"– a papal bull issued in 1493 with wide-ranging influence on Spanish Christendom and the Catholic Church's stronghold on the New World at the cusp of modern imperialism.
The book seeks to shed light on the influence of notable clergymen and social reformers, including Bartolomé de Las Casas, and their efforts to advocate for indigenous rights. Matt’s work meticulously contextualizes these contested stories and sheds light on the nuance of lived experience under Spanish Imperialism.