Final answer:
The encomienda system was a labor system used in Spanish colonies during the colonial era, where Spanish settlers demanded labor or tribute from indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christianization. The system often resulted in exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The encomienda system was a labor system used in Spanish colonies during the colonial era. It granted Spanish settlers the right to demand labor or tribute from indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christianization. The encomenderos, or the Spanish settlers, were supposed to protect and educate the indigenous people, but often abused their power and exploited them.
For example, the encomenderos would force indigenous people to work on their plantations or in mines, and would extract valuable resources from these lands. This system played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas and contributed to the exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous populations.
The encomienda system was eventually abolished due to the criticism and opposition it faced from religious figures and human rights advocates.
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