The Taíno People of the Caribbean

The Taíno People of the Caribbean

Introduction to the Taíno people and their division into regional groups

The Taíno were the principal indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean and Florida, with distinct groups in the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas.

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Taíno societal structure, including the role of the cacique

Their language and culture were Arawakan, though they developed uniquely from other Arawak peoples.

Cultural and linguistic attributes of the Taíno

Their language and culture were Arawakan, though they developed uniquely from other Arawak peoples.

First contact with Europeans and the effects of colonization

Spanish contact in 1492 led by Columbus initiated a period of tributes, violence, and disease, which, alongside harsh enslavement, contributed to the Taíno's near extinction by the late 16th century.

The Taíno's decline and the persistence of their cultural identity

A modern emphasis on Taíno identity has emerged, particularly among Puerto Ricans and Dominicans.

Key Terms

Taíno: Indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida.
Arawak: A language family spoken by the Taíno and other indigenous peoples of the Caribbean and South America.
Cacique: The hereditary head chief of Taíno tribes.
Encomienda: A labor system where the Spanish Crown granted colonists authority over a group of indigenous people.
Mestizo: A person of mixed European and indigenous American descent.

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