The spanish encomienda wasa. part of the columbian exchange.
b. a system of forced labor.
c. a disease that killed american indians.
d. an expedition that searched for gold.

b. A system of forced labor

Explanation:

Spanish encomienda was a system of forced labor that was applied in Spanish colonies specially in America and Philippines. It gave the conquerors the power to use particular group of subjects as laborers. A person called as encomendero was granted the right to have a number of fixed laborers from a community but who had to work from the community was not decided by the rulers. Indigenous leaders would provide these people for labor. In return it was encomendero's responsibility to provide the community with education in Christian faith and Spanish language. He also had to protect them from other tribes or pirates.