A labor system refers to the organized way in which work is arranged and carried out within a society or an institution. In the context of Spanish colonization in the New World, it specifically refers to the methods used by Spanish colonizers to exploit Native American labor for economic gain.
Related terms
Encomienda System: The encomienda system was a form of labor organization used by Spanish colonizers where Native Americans were granted to Spanish settlers as forced laborers in exchange for conversion to Christianity.
Repartimiento System: The repartimiento system was another form of forced labor used by Spanish colonizers, where Native Americans were required to provide a certain amount of labor or goods periodically.
Slave Trade: While not specific to Spanish colonization, the slave trade involved capturing and transporting Africans forcibly to the New World as enslaved individuals who were exploited for their labor.