Final answer:
The encomiendas were grants given by the Spanish government to Spanish conquistadors and colonizers, allowing them to demand labor from Indigenous people in exchange for guidance and leadership. This system became the dominant source of labor in Spanish American colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The encomiendas were grants given by the Spanish government to Spanish conquistadors and colonizers in areas now known as Mexico, South America, and the United States. The encomenderos, or grantees, were given the right to demand labor from the Indigenous people living in specific areas in exchange for guidance, education, and leadership. The encomienda system became the dominant source of labor in Spanish American colonies and sometimes led to the abuse and exploitation of the Native Americans.