Economy. The Taínos were farmers and fishers, and practiced intensive root crop cultivation in conucos, or small raised plots. Cotton was grown and spun into cloth, and along with the many other items produced by the skilled Taíno craftspeople, was used in a widespread trade network among the islands.
What work did the Tainos do?
The Taíno women were highly skilled in agriculture. The people depended on it, but the men also fished and hunted. They made fishing nets and ropes from cotton and palm. Their dugout canoes (kanoa) were made in various sizes, which could hold from 2 to 150 people.
How did the Tainos do their farming?
When they were first encountered by Europeans, the Taino practiced a high-yielding form of shifting agriculture to grow their staple foods, cassava and yams. They would burn the forest or scrub and then heap the ashes and soil into mounds that could be easily planted, tended, and irrigated.
What did the Tainos value?
Taíno Indians believed that being in the good graces of their zemis protected them from disease, hurricanes, or disaster in war. They therefore served cassava (manioc) bread as well as beverages and tobacco to their zemis as propitiatory offerings.
What God did the Tainos fear?
What God did the Tainos fear? Atabey is the supreme goddess of the Taínos (native peoples at the pre-Columbian era), one of two supreme deities in the Taíno religion.
What God did the Tainos worship?
Taíno religion, as recorded by late 15th and 16th century Spaniards, centered on a supreme creator god and a fertility goddess. The creator god is Yúcahu Maórocoti and he governs the growth of the staple food, the cassava. The goddess is Attabeira, who governs water, rivers, and seas.
What was the Tainos Favourite food?
Their daily diet consists of vegetables and fruits such as papaya, yams, guavas, and cassava. The Taino began the process of preparing meat and fish in large clay pots. The Carib Indians introduced spices and lemon juice to their meat and fish recipes. In general, the favorite Caribbean dish is seasoned jerk chicken.
What is the name of the Tainos leader?
Cacique comes from the Taíno word kassiquan, meaning “to keep house”. In 1555 the word entered the English language as “prince”. In Taíno culture, the cacique rank was hereditary and sometimes established through democratic means.
Who did the Tainos worship?
Taíno religion, as recorded by late 15th and 16th century Spaniards, centered on a supreme creator god and a fertility goddess. The creator god is Yúcahu Maórocoti and he governs the growth of the staple food, the cassava.
What is the name of the Tainos favorite dish?
Today, these cassava bread are known as “bammy” and it has become a popular Jamaican dish. It is usually coupled with Esctovich fish (a cuisine from the Spaniards). Read more about Jamaican bammy here. Pepper Pot Soup – Another delicacy that we inherited from the Tainos is Pepper Pot Soup!
What kind of economy did the Tainos have?
Economy The Taínos were farmers and fishers, and practiced intensive root crop cultivation in conucos, or small raised plots. Manioc was the principal crop, but potatoes, beans, peanuts, peppers and other plants were also grown. Farming was supplemented with the abundant fish and shellfish animal resources of the region.
How did the Tainos get rid of criminals?
The criminal would be slowly and mercilessly punished to death. This was done by piercing the criminal with a pointed pole or stick. It was convenient that the Tainos lived near the sea as one of their key economic activities was fishing and this was a key part of their diet.
What did the Jamaican Tainos do for fun?
The Jamaican canoes were technically and beautifully made, carved and painted both bow and stern with ornaments. Tainos gave way for recreational activities. Tainos enjoyed singing and dancing (arieto). Women and men danced separately, but when there is a marriage ceremony of a cacique both sexes would dance together.
What kind of houses did the Taino people live in?
Most Taíno people lived in circular huts, but the cacique lived in a rectangular hut that was in the center of the village. While all relatively small in size, these structures could withstand the hurricane-strength winds that ravished the islands every year, which is no small feat.
