Taino people are considered among the Arawak people of South America. Their language is also a part of the Arawakan family of northern South America. In general, Taino culture refers to the seafaring, indigenous individuals of the Bahamas, northern Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles.
Columbus arrived to the area in the 1490s. During this time, there were approximately five chiefdoms and territories of Taino that tribute was paid. These were located in the area once known as Hispaniola and now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
This group was known to be an enemy of the Carib tribes, in the past. Carib tribes also had their origins in South America and were primarily found in Lesser Antilles. There has been much discussion and study on the relationship held between the tribes. For much of the 15th century, Taino people had been forced to the Caribbean's northeastern region because of Carib tribes raiding their area. They would hold women in captivity.
Spaniards who arrived in Puerto Rico, after first going to Bahamas, Hispaniola and Cuba in the 1490s, did not bring along women in their first excursions. Instead, they took Taino women as their common-law wives, which resulted in mestizo children. Sexual violence against these women was common in Haiti. There are some who suggest there was substantial amount of cultural and racial mixing in Cuba too.
The culture became extinct when the Spanish colonists began to settle. This was primarily the result of infectious disease that had spread and the absence of immunity. The first outbreak of smallpox recorded in Hispaniola took place in December 1518 or January 1519. This epidemic in 1518 killed nearly 100 percent of natives who were still alive at the time. Enslavement and warfare by colonists also led to many deaths. In 1548, native population had fallen under 500.
There were two distinct classes: nobles or nitainos, and commoners or naborias. The chiefs governed the classes and were giving the title caciques. These individuals could be male or female. They were also advised by priests or healers known as bohiques, which were believed to have special abilities to speak with gods and heal. They were often consulted and offered permission for the society to engage in important tasks.
The culture followed a matrillneal system in terms of kinship, descent and inheritance. When a male heir was not present, inheritance or succession was automatically granted to the eldest child, male or female, of the deceased person's sister. In the society, couples who were recently married lived in the household of a maternal uncle. The belief was that the uncle was more important to the life of a woman than her birth father. Some people, men and women, engaged in polygamy. They could have two or three spouses, and caciques were known to have as many as 30.
Women had a lot of skill in agriculture and society depended on this. Men fished and hunted, using palm and cotton to make fish nets and ropes. Bows and arrows were also employed for hunting purposes, and arrowheads with poison were used too.
Columbus arrived to the area in the 1490s. During this time, there were approximately five chiefdoms and territories of Taino that tribute was paid. These were located in the area once known as Hispaniola and now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
This group was known to be an enemy of the Carib tribes, in the past. Carib tribes also had their origins in South America and were primarily found in Lesser Antilles. There has been much discussion and study on the relationship held between the tribes. For much of the 15th century, Taino people had been forced to the Caribbean's northeastern region because of Carib tribes raiding their area. They would hold women in captivity.
Spaniards who arrived in Puerto Rico, after first going to Bahamas, Hispaniola and Cuba in the 1490s, did not bring along women in their first excursions. Instead, they took Taino women as their common-law wives, which resulted in mestizo children. Sexual violence against these women was common in Haiti. There are some who suggest there was substantial amount of cultural and racial mixing in Cuba too.
The culture became extinct when the Spanish colonists began to settle. This was primarily the result of infectious disease that had spread and the absence of immunity. The first outbreak of smallpox recorded in Hispaniola took place in December 1518 or January 1519. This epidemic in 1518 killed nearly 100 percent of natives who were still alive at the time. Enslavement and warfare by colonists also led to many deaths. In 1548, native population had fallen under 500.
There were two distinct classes: nobles or nitainos, and commoners or naborias. The chiefs governed the classes and were giving the title caciques. These individuals could be male or female. They were also advised by priests or healers known as bohiques, which were believed to have special abilities to speak with gods and heal. They were often consulted and offered permission for the society to engage in important tasks.
The culture followed a matrillneal system in terms of kinship, descent and inheritance. When a male heir was not present, inheritance or succession was automatically granted to the eldest child, male or female, of the deceased person's sister. In the society, couples who were recently married lived in the household of a maternal uncle. The belief was that the uncle was more important to the life of a woman than her birth father. Some people, men and women, engaged in polygamy. They could have two or three spouses, and caciques were known to have as many as 30.
Women had a lot of skill in agriculture and society depended on this. Men fished and hunted, using palm and cotton to make fish nets and ropes. Bows and arrows were also employed for hunting purposes, and arrowheads with poison were used too.
About the Author:
You can visit www.nationalallianceofnativeamericanslonghouse.com for more helpful information about Important Details About The Taino Culture.
0 comments:
Post a Comment