How are the encomienda and hacienda related?

Answer 1

The encomienda and hacienda systems were both integral to colonial Spanish America, particularly in their roles in land and labor management. The encomienda system granted Spanish settlers the right to extract labor and tribute from Indigenous people, ostensibly in exchange for protection and Christianization. In contrast, the hacienda system involved large estates that produced agricultural goods, relying on a mix of Indigenous labor, enslaved individuals, and later, wage laborers. Both systems reflect the exploitative practices of colonialism, emphasizing the economic dominance of Spanish settlers over Indigenous populations and their resources.