USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The encomienda (Spanish pronunciation: [eŋkoˈmjenda] ( listen)) was a Spanish slave labour system that rewarded conquerors with the labour of conquered non-Christian peoples. The labourers, in theory, were provided with benefits by the conquerors for whom they laboured, including military protection and education.

Detailed explanation-2: -In exchange for the stolen labor of Indigenous people and tribute, the Spanish lord would provide protection and education. In reality, however, the encomienda system was thinly-masked enslavement and led to some of the worst horrors of the colonial era.

Detailed explanation-3: -Eventually, the encomienda system was replaced by repartimiento, in which the native workers were allotted directly to the Spanish monarchy rather than individual Spaniards in the colonies.

Detailed explanation-4: -Encomenderos are also mandated through these grants to convert Natives to Christianity and endorse Spanish as their primary language. Native peoples are forced to engage in hard labor and subjected to torture, extreme abuse, and, in some cases, death if they resist (Nies, 1996).