How Did Ponce De Leon Explore Their Culture In The Caribbean
In August of 1508, Juan Ponce de Leon set sail to the Caribbean to explore the island of San Juan and was greeted by the indigenous people called the Taino. Agueybana, the main Taino Cacique of the island they called Boriquén Tierra del alto señor ("Land of the Noble Lord"), traveled with Ponce de Leon and some gold back to Spain where Ponce de Leon was granted the first settlement rights on San Juan. In 1510, Ponce de Leon founded Caparra, the first settlement. He named himself Adelantado meaning Advanced Military Governor and he introduced cattle, horses and commenced mining for gold in which the local Taino were forced to work. The Tainos identified themselves as Borinquen and their culture consisted of agricultural systems, religion,
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In return he or she received canoes, special foods such as iguana, colorful clothes and semis or zemis, which are small statues of spirits and gods that protected villages and individuals. Each village also had a spiritual healer known as Bohuti. Bohuti tended to know the spiritual needs of the gods and the medicinal benefits of local plants. Bohuti received plenty of cassava for payment. Taino men were accountable for hunting, fishing, building canoes and clearing land for crops. They smoked Tobacco as well as snuffed it for spiritual and non-spiritual pleasure. Taino women harvested the crops, prepared meals and weave hammocks and skirts. They would carry infants on their backs with boards attached to the front and back of the infant’s head. This was done to flatten the head, which was considered a physically attractive attribute to the Tainos. The Tainos believed in life after death and good and evil. Yucahu, the god of cassava (important to Tainos diet) and the epitome of all that is good, was the principal deity. Other deities include Juracan, the god of destruction and Atabey, the goddess of fresh water and fertility. Tainos believed that hidden in the forest surrounding their villages were evil spirits called Maboyas, which only came out at night to hurt
In return he or she received canoes, special foods such as iguana, colorful clothes and semis or zemis, which are small statues of spirits and gods that protected villages and individuals. Each village also had a spiritual healer known as Bohuti. Bohuti tended to know the spiritual needs of the gods and the medicinal benefits of local plants. Bohuti received plenty of cassava for payment. Taino men were accountable for hunting, fishing, building canoes and clearing land for crops. They smoked Tobacco as well as snuffed it for spiritual and non-spiritual pleasure. Taino women harvested the crops, prepared meals and weave hammocks and skirts. They would carry infants on their backs with boards attached to the front and back of the infant’s head. This was done to flatten the head, which was considered a physically attractive attribute to the Tainos. The Tainos believed in life after death and good and evil. Yucahu, the god of cassava (important to Tainos diet) and the epitome of all that is good, was the principal deity. Other deities include Juracan, the god of destruction and Atabey, the goddess of fresh water and fertility. Tainos believed that hidden in the forest surrounding their villages were evil spirits called Maboyas, which only came out at night to hurt