The seafaring people known as Taino were among the Arawak peoples of South America. The language is a member of the Arawakan language family of the northern region of South America. Generally speaking, Taino culture refers to that of the indigenous people of Greater Antilles, Bahamas and northern Lesser Antilles.
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.
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 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.
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 main classes in this society: naborias, also called commoners, and nitainos, also known as nobles. Chiefs were responsible for governing these classes and were given the title of caciques. These people may have been female or male, and were known to be advised by healers or priests called bohiques. The bohiques were thought to have special abilities when it came to speaking with the gods and healing. They were often the ones consulted and giving permission for the society to participate in practices.
This culture had a matrillneal system when it came to kinship, inheritance and descent. When the male heir was not around, the succession or inheritance went to the oldest child, be it daughter or son, of the deceased father's sister. In this society, newly married couples lived in the same household as the maternal uncle, who was considered more important in the life of his niece than her biological father. Some in this society practiced polygamy. Men and some women may have had two to three spouses, and some caciques had as many as 30 spouses.
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.
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 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.
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 main classes in this society: naborias, also called commoners, and nitainos, also known as nobles. Chiefs were responsible for governing these classes and were given the title of caciques. These people may have been female or male, and were known to be advised by healers or priests called bohiques. The bohiques were thought to have special abilities when it came to speaking with the gods and healing. They were often the ones consulted and giving permission for the society to participate in practices.
This culture had a matrillneal system when it came to kinship, inheritance and descent. When the male heir was not around, the succession or inheritance went to the oldest child, be it daughter or son, of the deceased father's sister. In this society, newly married couples lived in the same household as the maternal uncle, who was considered more important in the life of his niece than her biological father. Some in this society practiced polygamy. Men and some women may have had two to three spouses, and some caciques had as many as 30 spouses.
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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