Etymology
Peonage derives from the Spanish word "peón," meaning "pawn" or "foot soldier."
Meaning
Peonage refers to a system of forced labor where individuals are compelled to work without compensation to repay a debt or fulfill an obligation.
Origin
Peonage originated in the Spanish colonial era in the Americas. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors established a system known as the "encomienda," which granted Spanish landowners control over indigenous populations. Indigenous people assigned to encomiendas were forced to provide labor as tribute in exchange for protection and Christianization.
Over time, the encomienda system evolved into peonage, a more formalized system of debt-based labor. Indigenous workers were advanced money or goods by landowners, creating a debt that they were obligated to repay through labor. This debt could be inherited by future generations, effectively enslaving entire families.
Peonage continued to exist in various forms throughout Latin America and other Spanish colonies well into the 19th and 20th centuries. It was eventually abolished in most countries through legal reforms and international conventions prohibiting slavery and forced labor.
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