Mita is a traditional form of labor system that originated in the Inca Empire, primarily in present-day Peru. It required communities to provide a certain number of workers for public projects, such as road construction and mining. This system was designed to support the state and ensure that large-scale infrastructure could be developed. The Mita system was later adapted by the Spanish colonial authorities, who used it to exploit indigenous labor for silver mining in places like Potosí. While it provided some benefits, such as wages and skills training, it often led to harsh working conditions and significant population decline due to overwork and disease.