Final answer:
The encomienda and hacienda systems contributed to the increase of the transatlantic slave trade by creating a demand for resilient labor, which was met by the importation and exploitation of enslaved Africans as indigenous populations declined.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development of the encomienda and hacienda systems were pivotal in increasing the transatlantic slave trade. These systems, aimed at converting and protecting natives, quickly devolved into forms of forced labor nearly indistinguishable from slavery. As the native populations were decimated by overwork, disease, and violence, the demand for a resilient workforce grew.
This led to the enslavement and importation of Africans, who were deemed more durable and were not protected by the same religious laws that covered indigenous peoples. The profitability of plantations, particularly sugar cane, relied heavily on slave labor. As this demand grew, so did the slave trade, fueling an economy dependent on the exploitation of enslaved Africans, who were seen as an abundant and profitable labor source.