Final answer:
A quitrent was an annual tax paid by landowners in European colonies to generate revenue, distinct from indentured servitude which was a labor system.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of European nations deriving income from their colonies, landowners paid an annual tax known as a quitrent. This tax was a way to generate revenue from the lands in the colonies, and it typically did not involve personal labor from the landowners, rather it was a monetary or produce fee paid to the ruling government or proprietor. In contrast, indentured servitude was a system of labor where individuals, often from Europe, would sign contracts committing to several years of work in exchange for passage to the colonies, along with provisions during their term and a promise of land or goods upon completing their service. While related, quitrent was a form of tax, and indentured servitude was a form of labor arrangement in colonial societies.