Tainos
Tainos:
And their impact on the Caribbean
Outline
Thesis Statement: The Taino Indians, a unique group in Hispaniola, made many
contributions to the Caribbean that are still shared and practiced
in modern-day society.
Introduction
I. Background
A. Definition of Taino B. Culture / Lifestyle
II. History
A. Housing / dress B. Food / agriculture C. Transportation
III. Beliefs
A. Religion B. Myth
IV. Events
A. November 18, 1493 B. November 19, 1493
Conclusion
On December 6, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed at St. Nicholas, in Haiti
(Hispaniola). Consequently, this began a totally new phase of life on the island of
Hispaniola. There was a flourishing civilization of Native Americans living there. The primary group was the Arawak/Taino Indians. Arawak is the general group to which the
Taino Indians belong, and describes the common language with this group of Native
Americans shared. They ranged from Venezuela through the Caribbean and Central
America all the way to Florida; however, the particular group of Arawak-speaking people who lived on the island of Hispaniola was the Taino Indians. For about a thousand years the peaceful people known as Taino had thrived in modern-day Cuba, the Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico, and many other islands in the Lesser and Greater Antilles. However, less than 30 years after Columbus’ journey, Spanish weaponry, force labor, and European diseases would wreck the Tainos. The Tainos left no remains or signs of their existence and all that remained of their culture were a handful of words in Modern English, such as barbecue, canoe, hammock, and hurricane. However, thanks largely to two remarkable digs undertaken over the past two years, archaeologists are increasingly enriching their knowledge of the complex society of the Taino and their sophistication of
And their impact on the Caribbean
Outline
Thesis Statement: The Taino Indians, a unique group in Hispaniola, made many
contributions to the Caribbean that are still shared and practiced
in modern-day society.
Introduction
I. Background
A. Definition of Taino B. Culture / Lifestyle
II. History
A. Housing / dress B. Food / agriculture C. Transportation
III. Beliefs
A. Religion B. Myth
IV. Events
A. November 18, 1493 B. November 19, 1493
Conclusion
On December 6, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed at St. Nicholas, in Haiti
(Hispaniola). Consequently, this began a totally new phase of life on the island of
Hispaniola. There was a flourishing civilization of Native Americans living there. The primary group was the Arawak/Taino Indians. Arawak is the general group to which the
Taino Indians belong, and describes the common language with this group of Native
Americans shared. They ranged from Venezuela through the Caribbean and Central
America all the way to Florida; however, the particular group of Arawak-speaking people who lived on the island of Hispaniola was the Taino Indians. For about a thousand years the peaceful people known as Taino had thrived in modern-day Cuba, the Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico, and many other islands in the Lesser and Greater Antilles. However, less than 30 years after Columbus’ journey, Spanish weaponry, force labor, and European diseases would wreck the Tainos. The Tainos left no remains or signs of their existence and all that remained of their culture were a handful of words in Modern English, such as barbecue, canoe, hammock, and hurricane. However, thanks largely to two remarkable digs undertaken over the past two years, archaeologists are increasingly enriching their knowledge of the complex society of the Taino and their sophistication of
Cited: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (1986). Tainos (Vol. 11). International Copyright Union. Lemonick, Michael (1998, October). Before Columbus. Time Magazine, 76-77. Bercht, Fatima. (1997). Taino Pre-Columbian Art and Culture from the Caribbean. New York: El Museo del Bario: Monacelli Press, 1997. Rouse, Irving (1992). The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People who Greeted Columbus. New Haven: Yale University Press. Corbett, Bob. (1994). Internet. Pre-Columbian Hispaniola HC5: Pre-Columbian Hispaniola – Arawak/Taino Native Americans. Barreiro, Jose. (1990). A Note on Tainos; Whither Progress. Internet. Tainos, 66-77. Johnson, Neil. (1995). Taino Indians. New York: Warner.