What is encommendia?

Answer 1

Encomienda was a labor system instituted by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas, granting Spanish settlers rights to indigenous people for labor in exchange for protection and Christianization. This system effectively allowed encomenderos to exploit indigenous labor while claiming to provide care and education. However, it often led to severe abuses and significant declines in the indigenous population due to overwork and disease. The encomienda system was eventually criticized and reformed, leading to its decline in the 17th century.