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.
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 went extinct once the Spanish colonists settled. This was mostly due to the infectious disease that spread and the lack of immunity. The first epidemic with smallpox that was recorded in the region of Hispaniola occurred in December 1518 or 1519 in January. The situation in 1518 killed 90 percent of natives who had not already died. Warfare and enslavement by the colonists was another reason many died. By 1548, native population was below 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.
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.
Women from this society had high skills in agriculture. In fact, the culture depended upon them for this. Men were also responsible for hunting and fishing. They used cotton and palm to make fish nets and ropes. Arrows and bows were also utilized for hunting, as well as poison arrowheads.
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 went extinct once the Spanish colonists settled. This was mostly due to the infectious disease that spread and the lack of immunity. The first epidemic with smallpox that was recorded in the region of Hispaniola occurred in December 1518 or 1519 in January. The situation in 1518 killed 90 percent of natives who had not already died. Warfare and enslavement by the colonists was another reason many died. By 1548, native population was below 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.
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.
Women from this society had high skills in agriculture. In fact, the culture depended upon them for this. Men were also responsible for hunting and fishing. They used cotton and palm to make fish nets and ropes. Arrows and bows were also utilized for hunting, as well as poison arrowheads.
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