Colleges/Universities in Columbus: INDIANA UNIVERSITY-PURDUE UNIVERSITY COLUMBUS (IUPUC) (Total enrollment: 1,371; Location 4601 CENTRAL AVE; Public; Website: http://www.iupuc.edu) Click to draw/clear city borders
In the encomienda, the Spanish crown granted a person a specified number of natives from a specific community, with the indigenous leaders in charge of mobilizing the assessed tribute and labor.
Quick Answer. The encomienda system was a feudalistic governing structure in which South and Central American natives were attached to land headed by an encomiendero. The natives were to provide labor and tribute, while the encomiendero was supposed to protect them and educate them in the facets of Christianity. In reality, the natives were abused and enslaved.