Refer to the passage. And the persons who have the said Indians in their charge [in encomienda] shall have them sow, in season, half a fanega of maize, and shall also give them a dozen hens and a rooster to raise and enjoy the fruit thereof, the chickens as well as the eggs; and as soon as the Indians are brought to the estates they shall be given all the aforesaid as their own property; and the person whom you send for this purpose shall tell them it is for their own use and that it is given them in exchange for what they are leaving behind, to enjoy as their own property. And we command that the persons to whom they are given in encomienda shall keep it for them so that they may enjoy it as their own; and we command that this property shall not be sold or taken from them by any person to whom they may be given in encomienda, or by anyone else, but that it shall belong to the said Indians to whom it is assigned and to their descendants, even though this said person sell the estate in which they are.

Which of the following best explains how the Laws of Burgos affected the social hierarchy of the Spanish colonies in the Americas?

They allowed indigenous populations to acquire property and raise their status in Spanish society.

They allowed indigenous populations to maintain traditional societal roles and thus preserve their social status.

They allowed Spanish settlers to reinforce their power and social status despite minimal concessions to indigenous people.

They allowed Spanish settlers to have more power over the indigenous populations and moved Spanish settlers to the top of the social hierarchy