Spanish encomienda system

Definition

The encomienda system was established by Spain during their colonization period in Americas during 16th century. It allowed colonists to demand labor or tribute from indigenous people in exchange for providing protection and Christian education.

Analogy

Imagine you're at school where older students are given responsibility over younger ones. They're supposed to help them learn new things (like Christianity) but instead they make them do all their homework while not teaching them anything valuable. That's similar to how some colonists abused encomienda system.

Related terms

Conquistadors: Spanish explorers and warriors who successfully conquered much of America in the 16th century.

Mita System: A labor system established by the Inca Empire before the Spanish conquest, later adapted by the Spanish and used especially in mining their South American colonies.

Repartimiento System: A colonial forced labor system imposed upon the indigenous population of Spanish America and the Philippines.