The Encomienda System

The encomienda was a system where Spanish adventurers and settlers

were granted the legal right to extract forced labour from indigenous tribal

chiefs in the Americas colonies of the Spanish Empire. In return, the Europeans

were expected to give military protection to the labourers and offer them the

opportunity to be converted to Christianity by funding a parish priest.

The encomienda system permitted the Spanish Crown to convert its

invading army of conquistadors into colonial settlers, but the system's flaws –

maltreatment and significant population reductions from diseases – meant that it

was eventually replaced by a system of low-paid labour and large estate

management. (Cartwright, 2022)

Cartwright, M. (2022) Encomienda, World History Encyclopedia.

https://www.worldhistory.org#organization. Available at:
https://www.worldhistory.org/Encomienda/ (Accessed: October 3, 2022).