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.
These people were known as the enemy to Carib tribes, historically. This group also had origins in South America and was mostly located in Lesser Antilles. The relationship between these tribes is a topic that many have discussed and studied. For a good portion of the fifteenth century, Taino people were forced to the northeastern area of the Caribbean because of raids by the Carib tribes. Women were held in captivity, which is why many Carib women started to speak Taino.
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.
This culture became extinct after settlement by the Spanish colonists. This was primarily caused by infectious disease in which there had been no immunity. The first smallpox epidemic recorded in Hispaniola took place in December of 1518 or January of 1519. In 1518, it killed nearly ninety percent of natives who had not already passed away. Enslavement and warfare by colonists also led to many deaths. By the year 1548, the population of natives had been reduced to less than 500.
The society had been divided into classes: nitainos or nobles, and naborias or commoners. These two classes were governed by the chiefs who were called caciques, and could be male or female. Caciques, who were advised by healers or priests called bohiques, were given special privileges. Bohiques were known for their powers to heal and ability to speak with the gods. These were consulted and granted permission to participate in specific 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.
These people were known as the enemy to Carib tribes, historically. This group also had origins in South America and was mostly located in Lesser Antilles. The relationship between these tribes is a topic that many have discussed and studied. For a good portion of the fifteenth century, Taino people were forced to the northeastern area of the Caribbean because of raids by the Carib tribes. Women were held in captivity, which is why many Carib women started to speak Taino.
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.
This culture became extinct after settlement by the Spanish colonists. This was primarily caused by infectious disease in which there had been no immunity. The first smallpox epidemic recorded in Hispaniola took place in December of 1518 or January of 1519. In 1518, it killed nearly ninety percent of natives who had not already passed away. Enslavement and warfare by colonists also led to many deaths. By the year 1548, the population of natives had been reduced to less than 500.
The society had been divided into classes: nitainos or nobles, and naborias or commoners. These two classes were governed by the chiefs who were called caciques, and could be male or female. Caciques, who were advised by healers or priests called bohiques, were given special privileges. Bohiques were known for their powers to heal and ability to speak with the gods. These were consulted and granted permission to participate in specific 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.
RSS Feed (xml)
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu