aug 17, 1512 - 1512- Encomienda System
Description:
A dependency relation system that started in Spain and was brought to the Americas to control labor systems. The Spaniards were entrusted with dividing up labor among the Native Americans. The Encomienda system had an ideology similar to the previously used European feudal system. The Spaniards came and forced the natives to work for them and give the resources they gained to them. In this way the natives were like the Serfs and the Spaniards would be the Lords. The natives were treated badly and had harsh punishments. These “lords” were called Economendras and they promised protection to their people, but had their own goal of God, Gold, and Glory. These Economendras also forced Catholicism upon the Native Americans. It wasn’t until Bartolome de las Casas, that this cruel system was put to a stop and Native Americans were given more rights. This was significant as it set the tone for the way that Native Americans were treated in the New World. There treatment lead to tension and fighting for the hundreds of years that followed. The picture depicts an Economendras forcing a Native American to do hard labor for them, which follows the set-up of the encomienda system.
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1450 – 1750 Project
Significant- Important to the evolution of humanity. Had an ...
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