Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Agents Facet
3. People (hierarchy name)
4. people (agents)
5. [people by state or condition]

Anotations

Scope note:

Those who received encomienda grants from the Crown in colonial Latin America. An encomienda stated that the indigenous people must pay tribute in the form of commodities and service to the encomederos in return for protection and religious instruction. The Spanish were invested in this system during the period of the conquest since it permitted them to use large groups of Indians as forced labor.