"Encomienda" . From the Latin commendo, "to trust". 1 . In medieval Europe, it was the relationship of interpersonal dependency between the feudal lord and his vassal. The feudal lord provided protection in exchange for certain services of the vassal. 2 . An institution introduced by the Spanish conquistadors in the Americas that forced groups of conquered people to be compensated with work. The conquered peoples were considered vassals of the Crown. In many cases, natives were forced into forced labor and subjected to extreme punishments, and even death if they resisted.
