The Encomenderos of New Spain 1521-1555

<p>While the Spanish conquistadors have been stereotyped as rapacious treasure seekers many firstcomers to the New World realized that its greatest wealth lay in the native populations whose labor could be harnessed to build a new Spain. Hence the early arrivals in Mexico sought <i>encomiendas</i>-a grant of the Indians of a prescribed indigenous polity who were to provide the grantee (the <i>encomendero</i>) tribute in the form of commoditiesand service in return for protection and religious instruction.</p> <p>This study profiles the 506 known <i>encomenderos</i> in New Spain (present-day Mexico) during the years 1521-1555 using their life histories to chart the rise florescence and decline of the <i>encomienda</i> system. The first part draws general conclusions about the actual workings of the <i>encomienda</i> system. The second part provides concise biographies of the <i>encomenderos</i> themselves.</p>