One characteristic of Spanish colonial rule was its reliance on the encomienda system, which granted colonizers the authority over indigenous populations for labor and tribute. Initially, this system helped the Spanish extract vast resources and efficiently control large territories. However, over time, the harsh exploitation of native peoples led to significant population declines, social unrest, and ultimately weakened Spain's economic and military power, as the depletion of the labor force hindered sustainable development in the colonies.

Question

One characteristic of Spanish colonial rule was its reliance on the encomienda system, which granted colonizers the authority over indigenous populations for labor and tribute. Initially, this system helped the Spanish extract vast resources and efficiently control large territories. However, over time, the harsh exploitation of native peoples led to significant population declines, social unrest, and ultimately weakened Spain's economic and military power, as the depletion of the labor force hindered sustainable development in the colonies.
Summarize this.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The Spanish colonial rule relied heavily on the encomienda system, which allowed colonizers to control indigenous populations for labor and tribute. While this system initially facilitated resource extraction and territorial control, the harsh exploitation of native peoples resulted in significant population declines and social unrest. Over time, these issues weakened Spain's economic and military power by depleting the labor force and hindering sustainable development in the colonies.