Encomiendas in the Plain of Venezuela. Colonial practice in centuries XVI and XVII

Since 1552 and the early eighteenth century, a total of 158 encomienda grants are seen to have been held in the Venezuelan plains, an historical issue that has been little studied. The existing documentation identifies 59 grants in the hills and plains of the Coyones de Acarigua; 7 in Cohede (Cojedes); 8 between El Pao and San Carlos; 34 in Guanaguanare (Guanare), and 50 in San Sebastian de los Reyes. The motive was the search for gold, and the organization of lucrative trade in live cattle, beef jerky, salted meat, leather and hides. This work analyses documentation from the National General Archive of Venezuela (AGN), and that of the Venezuelan encomiendas of Sancho de Alquiza held in the Archivo General de Indias (AGI)