ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM

GROUP 1 DATE: NOVEMBER 14, 2011

WHAT IS THE ENCOMIEDA SYSTEM

This is the system which involves the enslavement of

the Tainos and other indigenous people by the Spanish. The Tainos were used as forced labour for economic production such as mining, farming and ranching. Natives were forced to do hard labor and subjected to extreme punishment and death if they resisted.

ESTABLISHMENT
In the encomienda, the crown granted a person a

specified number of natives for whom they were to take responsibility. In theory, the receiver of the grant was to protect the natives from warring tribes and to instruct them in the Spanish language and in the Catholic faith: in return they could extract tribute from the natives in the form of labor, gold or other products

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM

Amerindians became the conquered race subjected

to Spanish rule, domination and oppression resulting in destruction of their culture (assimilation), new language, religion, technology, tools, food, animals among others. Noblemen were granted lands under repartimiento and Tainos under encomienda so they could be protected, converted and instructed.

 Having the Tainos under encomienda ensured

Spanish expansion, settlement and control of lands. The superior technology of Europeans became the instrument to enslave and plunder the simpler indigenous societies of the region. Religion was introduced as an instrument of conquest and imperialism. It resulted in genocide of the Taino Groups and mass murder of others.

 Encomienda System established social and racial

relations as the basis for the economic and political order in the Spanish areas of the Americas. The encomienda somewhat weakened Amerindians' tribal identification and ethnicity.

SIGNIFICANCE
It was suppose to be a way for the Home country to

make sure that the Natives of the land which it was settling were to be taken in by Colonist and educated and become Civilized. However the colonists could take from Natives and abuse their products and goods.

THE IMPACT ON THE CARIBBEAN

A change in the social composition of the region:

Whites, Amerindians and Mestizos and the stratification within the society according to caste and class. Genocide of Amerindians from diseases, guns swords and suicide. It began a pattern of rebellion and resistance. Amerindian cooperation where Tainos and Kalinagos diverted energies of fighting each other to fighting Europeans.

IMPACT CONTD
Cultural exchange: Amerindians introduced tobacco

smoking, use of hammock, medical properties of plants and herbs, tropical products such as root crops, beans etc. Whereas the Spaniards introduced better inland transport (horse), sturdier houses (Spanish wall), more elaborate system of government, a new religion (Christianity), new crops such as sugar cane, banana, citrus (except grapefruit), different styles of dressing, new animals such as chickens, pigs, goats and cattle.

Are there any indigenous people left in the Caribbean?

A significant number of indigenous people are found

in Guyana (Arawaks, Caribs, WaiWai, Waru), Belize (Garifuna), Dominica (Caribs) and Suriname. This is so because Guyana, Belize, Suriname were too large for colonial masters to establish full control over these territories.

THE END
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