Taino History

The Tainos were a nation of indigenous people who flourished in the Greater Antilles-Caribbean Sea (Hispaniola). These islands included Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico when Christopher Columbus landed on beaches of the New World in 1492.

According to most scholars the decline of the Taino people dwindled quickly with the arrival of the Spaniards. The Spanish brought diseases which were foreign to the Taino's immune system. Many were enslaved to pave roads, build housing, farm foods and construct forts like the widely known landmark of El Morro de San Felipe in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Through archeological excavation much has been learned about the Taino as well as documentation from Fray Ramón Pané. Fray Pané was appointed by Columbus to record the Taino customs. Living amongst the Tainos, Fray Pané learning their language, religion and worship of the zemi gods as well as Taino music, and culture.

Some Pre-Columbian historians consider the Tainos as Arawaks because they spoke Arawakan and had originally traveled to the Caribbean from the Amazon Basin in North Eastern part of South America during the 6th century.

The Taino society was basically a gentle culture. It was characterized by happiness, friendliness and a highly organized hierarchical and paternal society. In fact the word "Taino" means Good and Noble. They lived in large farming communities throughout the Greater Antilles.

The Taino's primary source of protein was meat or fish which was either raw or partially cooked. There were some small mammals that were hunted which included snakes, rodents, bats, worms, birds, ducks and turtles from the lakes and sea.

The Taino had a developed system of agriculture which was environmentally friendly and almost maintenance free. They raised their crops in a conuco, a large mound which was devised especially for farming. They packed the conuco with leaves which improved drainage and protected it from soil erosion. One of the primary crops cultivated by the Taino was cassava or yuca, which they ate as a flat bread. They also grew corn, squash, beans, peppers, sweet potatoes, yams, peanuts as well as tobacco. Their villages were governed by chieftains, or caciques. The cacique's function was to keep the welfare of the village by assigning daily work and making sure everyone got an equal share.

The relatives of the caciques lived together in large houses in the center of the village. These houses reflect the warmth of the climate and simply used mud, straw and palm leaves. The houses did not contain much furniture. People slept in cotton hammocks or simply on mats of banana leaves. The general population lived in large circular buildings called bohios, constructed with wooden poles, woven straw, and palm leaves.

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