The Encomienda System

The Encomienda System was a Spanish colonial practice that granted settlers, called encomenderos, authority over Indigenous peoples in the Americas. In exchange for their labor and tribute—such as gold, crops, or other resources—Indigenous communities received protection and Christian teachings. While intended as a means of organization and conversion, the system often led to exploitation, with Indigenous people subjected to forced labor and mistreatment. It functioned as a form of economic and political control, reflecting European colonial priorities that prioritized resource extraction over Indigenous well-being.