The Taíno People: History and Legacy

• Social Studies
• Primary Education
• Age 5

The Taíno People: History and Legacy

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify the regions where the Taíno people were originally settled.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to describe the social and political organization of the Taíno people, including the role of the cacique.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to explain the impact of European contact on the Taíno population, culture, and territories.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to recognize the linguistic and cultural distinctions between the Taíno and the Caribs.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to understand the Taíno's contribution to modern Caribbean culture and their influence on place names.
At the end of the lesson you will be able to discuss the concept of the 'living Taíno' and contemporary issues of Taíno identity.

What do you already know about the Taíno people?

Geographical distribution and migration of the Taíno people

The Taíno were indigenous Arawak people inhabiting the Caribbean and Florida pre-Columbus.
They were divided into Western, Classic, and Eastern Taíno, with some migrating to Florida.
Hispaniola was notable for its five chiefdoms and Puerto Rico also had organized chiefdoms.

Social and political structure of the Taíno

The Taíno spoke an Arawakan language and were culturally distinct, though they had conflicts with the Carib people.
A Taíno chieftain led a chiefdom and to whom tribute was paid.

First European contact and colonial impact

European contact in 1492 led by Columbus introduced diseases and harsh treatment.
This caused the Taíno population to decline sharply.
Encomienda was a labor system where the Spanish required work from the Taíno in exchange for protection and education.

Taíno-Carib relations and cultural distinctions

The Taíno were culturally distinct, though they had conflicts with the Carib people.

Survival of Taíno cultural elements

Taíno influence remains in place names and cultural practices.
Modern individuals and groups identify with Taíno heritage.

Modern Taíno heritage and identity claims

Resurgence of Taíno identity among modern Puerto Ricans and Dominicans.

Key Terms

Taíno: Indigenous Arawak people who were the original inhabitants of the Caribbean and Florida.
Cacique: A Taíno chieftain who led a chiefdom and to whom tribute was paid.
Arawakan languages: A family of languages spoken by the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America.
Encomienda: A labor system where the Spanish required work from the Taíno in exchange for protection and education.
Island Arawak: Term used by early ethnohistorian Daniel Garrison Brinton to describe the Taíno people.
Living Taíno: Modern individuals and groups, particularly in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, who identify with Taíno heritage.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.