The aim of the article is to demonstrate how the system of forced labour developed within the Spanish colonial economy, a system that served what is termed workforce control. In this context, I analyse the structure of pre-Hispanic societies of America and the mental type of the Spanish colonizer, which had a significant impact on the shape of the colonial labour system. Next, I present how the institutions of encomienda, repartimiento and slavery functioned in practice in the main areas of the colonial economy
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.