A hacienda is a large estate or plantation that was historically common in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico and Spain. These estates were often used for agriculture, livestock, or mining, and they typically included a main house, outbuildings, and farmland. The hacienda system played a significant role in the colonial economy, providing resources and labor. Haciendas were usually owned by wealthy landowners, known as hacendados, who employed workers, often indigenous or mestizo people, to manage the land. Over time, many haciendas became centers of local culture and community life, influencing the social and economic structures of their regions.