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HAITIAN HISTORY
They are variously hreferred to as the Tainos or Arawaks. Because of the similarity in
were Quisqueya, Bohio and Ayiti. These names originated from Taino language meaning mountainous land or high ground.were
Quisqueya, Bohio and Ayiti. These names originated from Taino language meaning mountainous land or high ground.
Quisqueya, Bohio and Ayiti. These names originated from Taino language meaning mountainous land or high ground.
There were up to five Taino kingdoms in Ayiti when Columbus and his Spanish conquistadores arrived. Each kingdom was independent
of its neighbor. The five kingdoms lived in amity with each other, and there are yet any reports of warfare among them. These five
kingdoms and their reigning kings at the time were:
The province of Marien (Bainoa), whose inhabitants had Guacanagaric as their cacique, was sited in the north east coast of Ayiti and the
interior plains. This was the area where Christopher Columbus landed in December 1492 and built the first Spanish settlement of La
Navidad.
The province of Ciguayos (Cayabo or Maguana), with Caonabo as its cacique, occupied the central plains of the Cibao.
The province of Magua (Huhabo) was located at the north east end of the island and had a cacique named Guarionex.
The province of Xaragua occupied the western plains of present day Haiti. This province witnessed the most horrendous genocide of its
populace by the Spanish conquistadores. Behechio was the cacique when Columbus arrived. He was later succeeded by his widow
Anacaona, after Columbus’ men killed him.
The province of Higuey (Caizcimu), occupied the peninsula of Rico, in the eastern end of present day Haiti. The cacique was named
Cotubanama or Cayacoa.
| Social Organization of the Tainos |
As generally agreed by historians, the Tainos were a very friendly, happy and peaceful people. To their eternal regret, it was these same pleasant character traits
that made them easy targets for the rampaging hordes of Spanish conquistadores. Each Taino community was made up of about one to three thousand men, women
and children within a village or group of villages. The Taino community was also a hierarchical system. There were four hierarchies. At the lowest level were the
common people or Naboria. The next level was made up of sub-chiefs, called Nitaino. Following the Nitainos were the Bohiques, who doubled as priests and healers.
At the top of the hierarchy were the Caciques who were chieftains or kings.
that made them easy targets for the rampaging hordes of Spanish conquistadores. Each Taino community was made up of about one to three thousand men, women
and children within a village or group of villages. The Taino community was also a hierarchical system. There were four hierarchies. At the lowest level were the
common people or Naboria. The next level was made up of sub-chiefs, called Nitaino. Following the Nitainos were the Bohiques, who doubled as priests and healers.
At the top of the hierarchy were the Caciques who were chieftains or kings.
| Mode of Life of Tainos |
| Lifestyle of The Taino |
The Tainos were farmers, fishermen, and hunters. Their agricultural practices were well developed. To protect the soil from erosion, large earth mounds called
conuco, were made and packed with leaves. They also planted large variety of crops simultaneously, so that at any given time of the year or weather conditions,
there was always some food crop growing in the soil. Their agricultural practice was virtually work free. Crop maintenance was minimal. This allows the Tainos to
have plenty of free time. Free time was spent in recreational activities such as playing games and story telling. They also used their free time to plan elaborate
religious ceremonies for their many deities. Tainos were polytheists.
Before the arrival of Columbus and African slaves, who came much later, the Tainos grew a number of tropical crops like cassava, corn, squash, beans, peppers,
sweet potatoes, yams and peanuts. Cassava was their main food crop, from which they made cassava bread, tapioca, and other delicacies. Tainos’ mode of dressing
was hreflective of their hot tropical environment. They were scantily dressed. Children went barely clothed until they reached the age of marriage. Both adult men
and women wore short skirts and the unmarried ones wore headbands. Because of their aversion for hard work and strenuous efforts, Tainos lived in the lowland
plains of Ayiti, thus avoided the mountainous regions. This tendency to avoid the mountains, while making life generally easy for these peace loving people,
unfortunately exposed them to mass
conuco, were made and packed with leaves. They also planted large variety of crops simultaneously, so that at any given time of the year or weather conditions,
there was always some food crop growing in the soil. Their agricultural practice was virtually work free. Crop maintenance was minimal. This allows the Tainos to
have plenty of free time. Free time was spent in recreational activities such as playing games and story telling. They also used their free time to plan elaborate
religious ceremonies for their many deities. Tainos were polytheists.
Before the arrival of Columbus and African slaves, who came much later, the Tainos grew a number of tropical crops like cassava, corn, squash, beans, peppers,
sweet potatoes, yams and peanuts. Cassava was their main food crop, from which they made cassava bread, tapioca, and other delicacies. Tainos’ mode of dressing
was hreflective of their hot tropical environment. They were scantily dressed. Children went barely clothed until they reached the age of marriage. Both adult men
and women wore short skirts and the unmarried ones wore headbands. Because of their aversion for hard work and strenuous efforts, Tainos lived in the lowland
plains of Ayiti, thus avoided the mountainous regions. This tendency to avoid the mountains, while making life generally easy for these peace loving people,
unfortunately exposed them to mass
Greater Antilles. They lived particularly on the island of Haiti and also in Puerto Rico. They called that island Haiti,
Greater Antilles. They lived particularly on the island of Haiti and also in Puerto Rico. They called that island Haiti,
Quisqueya or Bohio because of its physical features. Haiti in Taino means high ground, mountainous land. Columbus
renamed the island Hispaniola.
renamed the island Hispaniola.
The Tainos exchanged cultural, linguistic and biological traits with the Guanahatabeys and the Island-Caribs. Some
ethnohistorians call the Tainos, Arawacks because they are said to be the descendents of Arawacks from the North
Eastern part of South America. However, they preferred to be called Tainos, which means men of the good. Most agree
that the Tainos who lived in Haiti or Bohio and the Boriquenos of Puerto Rico had a more advanced civilization.
According to various estimates, when the Spaniards conquered the island of Haiti, as many as 100,000 to 1,000,000
Tainos were living on that land. That number would be reduced to zero due to genocide committed by the Spaniards.
Nowadays, except for archeological remains and some artwork, there is practically no clear trace of Taino descent in
Haiti.
Greater Antilles. They lived particularly on the island of Haiti and also in Puerto Rico. They called that island Haiti,
Quisqueya or Bohio because of its physical features. Haiti in Taino means high ground, mountainous land. Columbus
renamed the island Hispaniola.
renamed the island Hispaniola.
The Tainos exchanged cultural, linguistic and biological traits with the Guanahatabeys and the Island-Caribs. Some
ethnohistorians call the Tainos, Arawacks because they are said to be the descendents of Arawacks from the North
Eastern part of South America. However, they preferred to be called Tainos, which means men of the good. Most agree
that the Tainos who lived in Haiti or Bohio and the Boriquenos of Puerto Rico had a more advanced civilization.
According to various estimates, when the Spaniards conquered the island of Haiti, as many as 100,000 to 1,000,000
Tainos were living on that land. That number would be reduced to zero due to genocide committed by the Spaniards.
Nowadays, except for archeological remains and some artwork, there is practically no clear trace of Taino descent in
Haiti.
population was so much decimated that their trait is not encountered in Haiti today. Through archeological population was so much decimated that their trait is not encountered in Haiti today. Through archeological evidence, biological and cultural remains, some answers have been provided to the origins of the Tainos, their culture and religion.culture and religion. |
| Society and Culture |
The inhabitants of Haiti and Puerto Rico were considered to be the most populous and most advanced culturally among the other
inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. The Tainos were said to be gentle and peaceful, happy and friendly. It is believed that the
Tainos traveled throughout the other islands eventually replenishing less developed communities. Most scholars agree that they
traveled up and down the chain of islands. They traveled in groups with children, women and domestic animals. They had well
built canoes of as much as 25 meters able to carry as many as fifty people. The Taino society was communal in nature. It was a
well-organized society divided between different "caciquats" or kingdom each governed by a chief or cacique. The cacique played
the role of priest, healer and/or local legislator.
inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. The Tainos were said to be gentle and peaceful, happy and friendly. It is believed that the
Tainos traveled throughout the other islands eventually replenishing less developed communities. Most scholars agree that they
traveled up and down the chain of islands. They traveled in groups with children, women and domestic animals. They had well
built canoes of as much as 25 meters able to carry as many as fifty people. The Taino society was communal in nature. It was a
well-organized society divided between different "caciquats" or kingdom each governed by a chief or cacique. The cacique played
the role of priest, healer and/or local legislator.
Note:
Tainos hated hard labor and ardous climbs. For those reasons, they, for the most part stayed away from the
mountainous regions of the island. You will find that the caciquats coincided with the coastal plains or interior valleys.
Tainos hated hard labor and ardous climbs. For those reasons, they, for the most part stayed away from the
mountainous regions of the island. You will find that the caciquats coincided with the coastal plains or interior valleys.
This position of cacique was not limited to men only; women could fill that position as well. The cacique was paid a tribute to
oversee the village. This was a hierarchical society where other levels of honor existed. There existed thus a number of
sub-caciques on the island. The sub-caciques did not get paid for their position, but were responsible for various services to the
village and to the cacique. At the time of the first contact with the Spaniards, the island of Haiti was divided into five caciquats
or provinces
oversee the village. This was a hierarchical society where other levels of honor existed. There existed thus a number of
sub-caciques on the island. The sub-caciques did not get paid for their position, but were responsible for various services to the
village and to the cacique. At the time of the first contact with the Spaniards, the island of Haiti was divided into five caciquats
or provinces
The Maguana with Caonabo as cacique, occupied the central plains of the Cibao.
The Magua with Guarionex as cacique, was in the farther North East.The Xaragua with
Bohechio as cacique, occupied the western plains of nowadays Haiti.
The Higuey with Cotubanama or Cayacoa, Occupied the Easternmost peninsula Rico
The Magua with Guarionex as cacique, was in the farther North East.The Xaragua with
Bohechio as cacique, occupied the western plains of nowadays Haiti.
The Higuey with Cotubanama or Cayacoa, Occupied the Easternmost peninsula Rico
The villages contained an average of one to two thousand people living in irregular houses arranged around a plaza. The
typical village of the Taino contained a flat court in the center of the villagewith houses surrounding it. The regular houses
had a circular shaped figure with poles providing its primary support.They had dirt floor and roofed dwelling and were covered
with woven straw and palm leaves. These houses were called ajoupas. They received guests on wooden stools.
Tainos had strong familial ties and related families lived together. Tainos society was a polygamous one with the cacique
allowed to have more wives than the other men of the villages. Being married to a cacique was considered a great honor. The
cacique wives and children enjoyed a superior lifestyle and they all lived in the same house. The house of the cacique was
rectangular and was made with the same materials as the other houses. Their flat court situated in the center of the village
was used for various festivals both religious and secular. During those festivals, they played a ball game that closely
resembles modern-day soccer.
typical village of the Taino contained a flat court in the center of the villagewith houses surrounding it. The regular houses
had a circular shaped figure with poles providing its primary support.They had dirt floor and roofed dwelling and were covered
with woven straw and palm leaves. These houses were called ajoupas. They received guests on wooden stools.
Tainos had strong familial ties and related families lived together. Tainos society was a polygamous one with the cacique
allowed to have more wives than the other men of the villages. Being married to a cacique was considered a great honor. The
cacique wives and children enjoyed a superior lifestyle and they all lived in the same house. The house of the cacique was
rectangular and was made with the same materials as the other houses. Their flat court situated in the center of the village
was used for various festivals both religious and secular. During those festivals, they played a ball game that closely
resembles modern-day soccer.
The Tainos had a good defense system since they were often in need to defend themselves against the Island-Caribs. At the
time of the conquest, the Tainos were fighting against the Caribs who had invaded the eastern part of Haiti.
| Some researchers base their evidence on the Tainos traits that were similar to those of the Indians of South America to conclude that the Tainos may have come from the northern part of that region. Archeologists, through excavation of Tainos remains, conclude that the migration must have happened some time ago in Pre-History |
Tainos ate mostly meat and fish, essentially their primary source of protein. They also ate birds, small mammals, snake and
any other animals. Their diet also comprised sweet potatoes, beans and peanuts as well as corn. They brought guava from South
America as well as animals like agouti and opossum. They had cassava and manioc for staples, which provided flour for them to
bake after having extracted the poisonous juice from those roots. They also hunted for bats, snakes, various rodents, worms
and other mammals. However, they were not men-eaters!
any other animals. Their diet also comprised sweet potatoes, beans and peanuts as well as corn. They brought guava from South
America as well as animals like agouti and opossum. They had cassava and manioc for staples, which provided flour for them to
bake after having extracted the poisonous juice from those roots. They also hunted for bats, snakes, various rodents, worms
and other mammals. However, they were not men-eaters!
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