# Encomienda — WHE Definition Discussion (1-20877) **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [June 15, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/encomienda-whe-definition-discussion-1-20877/17627 "2022-06-15T16:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markzcartwright](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/markzcartwright/32/35_2.png) [@markzcartwright](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/markzcartwright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/encomienda-whe-definition-discussion-1-20877/17627/1 "2022-06-15T16:00:01Z")
The _encomienda_ was a system where Spanish adventurers and settlers were granted the legal right to extract forced labour from indigenous tribal chiefs in the Americas colonies of the Spanish Empire. In return, the Europeans were expected to give military protection to the labourers and offer them the opportunity to be converted to Christianity by funding a parish priest. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Encomienda/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Encomienda/)._ * * * **Join the Conversation** - Which part did you find most interesting, and why? - What questions has this left you with? - What surprised you most in this definition? Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/system/32/30_2.png) [@system](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/encomienda-whe-definition-discussion-1-20877/17627/2 "2026-07-31T21:55:03Z")
Unlisted on July 31, 2026, 9:55pm UTC