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.
The people were historically known as the enemies of Carib tribes, another group that has its origins in South America and primarily in Lesser Antilles. The relationship between the groups has been a topic of discussion and subject of study. For most of the fifteenth century, Taino tribes were driven to northeastern Caribbean because raids by Carib tribes. Women were even taken captive, which resulted in many Carib women eventually speaking 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.
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.
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.
The people were historically known as the enemies of Carib tribes, another group that has its origins in South America and primarily in Lesser Antilles. The relationship between the groups has been a topic of discussion and subject of study. For most of the fifteenth century, Taino tribes were driven to northeastern Caribbean because raids by Carib tribes. Women were even taken captive, which resulted in many Carib women eventually speaking 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.
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.
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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