What was the encomienda system?

The encomienda system was a form of forced and unpaid labour used by Spanish authorities and settlers in the colonies of the Spanish Empire. In return, the labourers were given military protection and the opportunity to be converted to Christianity.

What was the purpose of the encomienda system?

The purpose of the encomienda system in the Spanish Empire was to provide an incentive for conquistadors to conquer new territories and to provide free labour to extract wealth from the colonies. For the Catholic Church, the system permitted indigenous peoples to be exposed to Christianity.

Was the encomienda system slavery?

The encomienda system in Spanish colonial America was a system of forced and unpaid labour but was not slavery since the labourers could not be bought and sold to a third party. In practical terms, though, there was little difference.

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Encomienda

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