In South America, Taino people are recognized as Arawak people. Even their language falls under the Arawakan family of the northern region in South America. Typically, Taino culture is used to describe anything related to the indigenous, seafaring people of Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles or Bahamas.
When Columbus arrived in 1492, there were five known Taino chiefdoms and territories in which tribute was given. These existed in the area formerly known as Hispaniola. Today it is recognized as Haiti and 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 went to Cuba, Bahamas and Hispaniola before arriving in Puerto Rico earlier. On this first excursion, they did not bring along their women. However, they took Taino women as their wives in common law, producing a lot of mestizo children along the way. There was much sexual violence directed toward these women by the Spaniards in Haiti. It is believed that a lot of cultural and racial mixing also took place in Cuba around this time.
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.
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.
This culture had a matrillneal system that was used when it came to inheritance, kinship and descent. If the male heir was not present, the succession or inheritance was then granted to the oldest child, be it female or male, of a deceased individual's sister. In society, married couples lived in the home of the maternal uncle because there was belief that the uncle had a more important role in the life of the woman than her biological father. Both men and women were known to have participated in polygamy in this culture. They might have up to three spouses, although caciques were recorded to have as much as 30.
The women were known for being skilled when it came to agriculture. This group of people depended upon it. Men were often responsible for hunting and fishing. They made fish ropes and nets with palm and cotton materials. Bows and arrows were employed for hunting, as well as arrowheads with poison.
When Columbus arrived in 1492, there were five known Taino chiefdoms and territories in which tribute was given. These existed in the area formerly known as Hispaniola. Today it is recognized as Haiti and 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 went to Cuba, Bahamas and Hispaniola before arriving in Puerto Rico earlier. On this first excursion, they did not bring along their women. However, they took Taino women as their wives in common law, producing a lot of mestizo children along the way. There was much sexual violence directed toward these women by the Spaniards in Haiti. It is believed that a lot of cultural and racial mixing also took place in Cuba around this time.
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.
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.
This culture had a matrillneal system that was used when it came to inheritance, kinship and descent. If the male heir was not present, the succession or inheritance was then granted to the oldest child, be it female or male, of a deceased individual's sister. In society, married couples lived in the home of the maternal uncle because there was belief that the uncle had a more important role in the life of the woman than her biological father. Both men and women were known to have participated in polygamy in this culture. They might have up to three spouses, although caciques were recorded to have as much as 30.
The women were known for being skilled when it came to agriculture. This group of people depended upon it. Men were often responsible for hunting and fishing. They made fish ropes and nets with palm and cotton materials. Bows and arrows were employed for hunting, as well as arrowheads with poison.
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