THEME 1: THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE EUROPEANS

● Nomad: a member of a group or tribe who constantly move from place to place to find
pasture and food. A wanderer.
● Nomadic: living the life of a nomad; wandering
● Migration: the movement of people or animals from one place to another.
● Indigenous: originating or occurring naturally in a particular region or country
● Amerindians: a member of one of the indigenous group of people of the Americas
● Bering Strait: A narrow passage of water between Alaska and Russia connecting the
Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

TOPIC: Indigenous People Migration and Settlement Patterns

Two arguments have been put forward for why people migrated to the American continent. The
premise of these arguments is the belief that a mass of Asian people crossed either an ice bridge
or a land bridge to get to the continent. The first argument is that 25000 years ago the Bering
Strait was above sea level and formed the Beringia land bridge. The second argument is that
there was no land bridge but there was an ice bridge between Siberia and Alaska. It is believed
that during the ice age the people from northern Asia crossed either of these bridges as they were
fleeing the icy conditions or chasing migratory herds of deer, buffalo, seal and caribou. The
indigenous peoples are believed to have crossed and pushed south to the very end of the South
American mainland. They are believed to be the forefathers of the people living in the Americas
who Columbus encountered. The indigenous people are believed to have entered the Caribbean
islands from North, Central and South America.

Indigenous People Migrated from: Settled in:

Ciboney Florida Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba

Lucayans Banks of the Orinoco River/ Bahamas

Venezuela
Borequinos Banks of the Orinoco River/ Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Kalinagos Banks of the Orinoco River/ Lesser Antilles
Venezuela
Tainos Banks of the Orinoco River/ Trinidad, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba,
Venezuela Bahamas
Factors which influenced the location of these settlements include access to fresh water,
abundance of food/game, a need for defence and fertility of soil.

Reasons the Indigenous People Migrated from Asia and the Americas
Historians have always sought to explain events based on their analysis of certain facts to explain
how the Caribbean was settled. Theories have been formulated. These include:

1. Following food source: a group of Asiatic people (Mongolians) followed animals

(mammoth, deer and caribou- large reindeer) that migrated from Siberia to Alaska in
search of food. These people followed the herd of animals from Asia across an ice bridge
called the Bering Strait to N. America. This happened over 25,000 years ago.

2. It is believed that these people were fleeing the cold conditions in Asia.

The Migratory Pattern of the Indigenous People (Central & S. America)

Over 25,000 years ago, the first set of people arrived from Asia to North America. They crossed
by means of the land and ice bridge which connected Siberia and Alaska (The Bering Strait).
Some continued south and south east in empty land which spread from North America through to
Central America and eventually reached South America. These people did not all arrive at once.
They came in different groups, sometimes thousands of years apart.

The Migratory Pattern of the Indigenous People (2nd Wave: Arrival in the West Indies)
Having arrived in the Americas, the Amerindians primarily occupied areas in North and South
America. Overtime, the Indigenous people are believed to have entered the Caribbean from these
areas. Around 1000 B.C., there was another phase of migration from S. America, in the region of
the Orinoco River of Venezuela, up the Chain to the Leeward Islands towards the Greater
Antilles. The migration involved the Amerindian group of the Tainos and Kalinago.

Reasons the Amerindians migrated to the Caribbean from South America

A few hundred years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Amerindians left South
America to live in the Caribbean. The Tainos arrived first, followed by the Kalinago. The
following are possible reasons for the migration:

1. They were nomadic in nature and migration was an integral part of their culture.
 2. The population had outgrown the available food supply where they had settled and it was
becoming more difficult to feed everyone so there was a need for new land to start
settlement.
3. Changes in climatic conditions which might have poorly affected their health, so there
was a need to find a favourable climate.
4. The Kalinagos were warlike so they might have migrated in pursuit of the Tainos.
5. They needed a larger settlement area with available resources to support the growing
population
6. To access fresh water for domestic purposes, recreation, and irrigation purposes, as well
as for transportation, communication, defence against surprise attack and trading
purposes.
7. abundance of food/game

TOPIC: Mayans

We know that the Mayans lived on the Central American mainland and that they chiefly
occupied the Yucatan Peninsula. Unlike the Tainos and Kalinagos they built most of their
settlements inland. They did this because:

1. They could get a vast expanse of land to build their large and magnificent temples.
2. They had easy access to limestone for building.
3. There was an extensive trade network in the interior.
4. There was much fertile land for agriculture.
5. Rivers were located inland so they were also near water supply.

Political Organization

Of the three groups the Mayans were the most advanced. They built vast empires and
independent city states. As such, they had a fairly elaborate and rigid system of government.
Each independent city state was ruled by a Halach Uinic. This was a hereditary position. It was
passed down from father to son only. His powers were wide. He was almost an absolute ruler. He
had the final say in all matters. He had various civil, military and religious duties to perform. He
designed all domestic policies and foreign affairs. The states were divided into villages which
were ruled by batabs. They were all chosen from the noble class so this post was also hereditary.
They were to see to it that the laws and policies were enforced. Because the Mayans were
constantly engaged in defending themselves from neighboring invaders, the war chiefs
or nacoms were also an important part of the government. They were elected for three years.
During their term of office, they were not allowed to drink any strong drink. They were
responsible for providing and training soldiers.
 Social Organization

Not surprisingly therefore the society was also organized along rigid class lines. These ranged
from the royal family, the nobles: those who held top ranking government positions as well as
the scribes, the priests, the merchant class, the farmers and craftsmen and the slaves. The Mayan
society was a complex one. They were very intelligent and therefore the society accommodated
these privileged people in the noble class. Usually though the astronomers and astrologers and
mathematicians were from the priesthood.

Religious Beliefs and Practices

The Mayans were polytheistic. They believed in as many as 166 gods! They too had a number of
myths to explain the mysteries of life including earth and the creation of man. They believed in:

● The forces of good and evil

● Life after death
● Heaven and hell
● The underworld
● There is punishment in the afterlife for those who lived an evil life
● There is reward in the afterlife for those who lived a good life.
● Confessing to the priest on one's deathbed.
● Offering human sacrifices to the gods, especially virgin girls
● Using incense in the process of communicating with the gods
● Having birthday festivals and celebrations in honor of the gods
● Keeping the gods happy (appeasing the gods)

Gender Relations

In Mayan society, the women played a subservient role. Mayan women were not allowed to
drink at functions. They were supposed to take their drunken husbands home. They could not
hold public office. Their main functions were child bearers and homemakers. In fact, a Mayan
man could divorce his wife if she did not bear him any children. They were also given specific
roles. They worked to pay the tribute tax. Weaving and pottery were done exclusively by the
women. There were more recreational activities that the men were allowed to participate in. For
example there was only one dance in which the men and women were allowed to dance together.
All other dances were done by the men together. The men also participated in bow and arrow
contests.

Economic Activities

1. Trade
They traded within the mainland. They traded by land and sea. There was a day set aside for
market day and their established market centers. The highlands had goods that the lowlands did
not have. They used the rivers and the long coastline as sea routes to get from one city state to
another. This way too, they could carry a large volume of goods in the large canoes that they
built instead of a limited amount on their heads over long distances. They also traded obsidian
and flint. The flint was in great demand for fire purposes but was only plenty in a certain area.
Other precious metals and stones were traded to be used for ornamental or religious purposes.
For that same reason they traded feathers. The merchants and traders were known
as ppolms. They were often used as and suspected of being spies who carried information from
one city to another.

2. Farming
They practiced slash and burn, terracing, and raised field farming techniques. They grew a wider
variety of crops to include starch and vegetables. Maize (corn) was also their favourite starch.
Among the list of foods, we find squash, pumpkin and of course cacao. They too had cotton,
cassava, papaya, and sweet potatoes.

3. Hunting
The Tainos and Kalinagos only knew two animals. The wild forests of the Central American
mainland were the natural habitat of many animals such as a number of birds, deer, and the
jaguar. They too hunted the agouti.

4. Animal Husbandry
They reared a wide variety of animals in order to provide meat for their families and for sale in
the market. Examples of these are rabbits and the tapir.

5. Mining
This was very important to Mayan society and politics. There were large deposits of limestone to
be found along the Central American mainland. Using their slave labor they extracted huge
blocks of limestone for the construction of their cities, temples, and pyramids.

Technology

1. We will do engineering and architecture as a separate item since this was a very important part
of Mayan religion and society. Using their limestone and mortar the Mayans constructed the
following to create their magnificent empires:

● Corbelled arch
● Roads and bridges
● Causeways
● Massive temples with staircases for worship
● Entire cities with huge pyramids were constructed of stones, like Chichen Itza and Tikal.
● Large public buildings made of limestone and mortar
● Stone stelae with their history depicted on them

2. They were skilled in Mathematics

3. They practiced a form of writing known as hieroglyphics.

4. They had books made from the bark of trees.

5. They created a Calendar very similar to ours with 365 days in a year and leap as well!

6. They practiced astrology. They observed the stars and planets and used these to determine the
‘right' time to plant, reap and even marry!

7. They had three farming techniques to include the slash and burn method and the Terracing

● They had a form of currency. Cocoa beans was used for money
● They used irrigation methods
● They used dams and wells to ensure water supply
● They knew and used the art of dyeing

The Tainos

Political
Political organization speaks to the way in which a people is governed or ruled. The Tainos had a
simple system of government. The cacique was the leader. He belonged to a special family. His
post was hereditary. This means that it was passed down from father to son throughout
generations. In a Taino society a female could inherit the position if her father, the cacique, did
not have a son. We know that there was a woman cacique ruling a province in Hispaniola when
Columbus and his men arrived on their first voyage to the Caribbean.

Each island was subdivided into provinces or what we would call communities. The cacique was
in charge of a province. He or she had several duties including:

● Supreme judge
● Lawmaker - he made the laws and enforced them
● Chief priest
● Distribution of land
● Led ceremonies
● Fixed the day of worship and celebrations

There were very few laws. Firstly, the Tainos were a peaceful set of people who believed in and
practiced clan-cooperation and respect for elders. They worked and played together in harmony.
There were very few crimes. The cacique was aided by a group of nobles known
as nitayanos. They were to see to it that the orders of the chief were carried out. Each village had
a village leader. This person was to see to the orderly day to day operations of the village. A
number of elders were elected to the council of elders. Their wisdom was sought when difficult
decisions were to be made.

A cacique had many privileges:

● He was allowed to have more than one wife. This would increase his chances of having a
male heir.
● His house (bohio) was rectangular while all the others were round. His house was also
the largest.
● He was given the best of the crop.
● A specially carved seat (duho) was given to him. This was his symbol of authority. On it
he sat and dispensed justice or gave out the orders for the day.
● He was not allowed to walk. He was carried about from place to place on a litter.

Social (involves religious beliefs & practices, customs and Gender Relations)

The Tainos were organized along family lines. A number of families make up a clan and the
clans made up the village and the villages formed the community.

Religious Beliefs & Practices

The Tainos were polytheistic- they believed in many gods. They had a number of myths to
explain the mysteries of life including earth and the creation of man. Their gods were represented
by zemis which they made from wood, bone, stone or cotton. Each household kept a zemi to
protect the family.

They believed in:

● The forces of good and evil
● Life after death
● Heaven (coyaba) and hell
● There is punishment in the afterlife for those who lived an evil life
● There is reward in the afterlife for those who lived a good life.
● The priest was the only one who could communicate with the gods (zemis)
● Offering food and meat offerings to the gods
● Using tobacco (incense) in the process of communicating with the gods
● Having festivals and celebrations in honour of the gods
● Keeping the gods happy (appeasing the gods)
● Offering prayers to the gods for healing, good harvest, protection and so on.
Customs
Every society has its own sets of customs and norms. This is what defines us and sets us apart
from other people and countries. The indigenous peoples were no different.

● They flattened the children's forehead as a mark of beauty.

● They were a pleasure loving people. They played a ball game called batos, swam and did
wrestling.
● Only men were allowed to smoke and drink
● They got married early
● Married men and women wore loincloths and cotton skirts respectively. The single
people went naked.
● The most heinous crimes were theft and adultery for which the punishment was a slow
and painful death.
● There was no private property, possession or wealth. Everything was owned collectively
by the members of the community. (Communally)

Gender Relations
Women were a very important part of Tainos society. Gender relation is most clearly seen in the
division and organization of labor. The women were responsible for the planting of the crops. It
was believed that the fertility of the woman would transfer to the crop and vice versa. If she was
barren, mother earth would transfer some of its fertility to her.

The women did the weaving so that the men and children could have loincloths and cotton arm
bands to wear. They were to care for the children and the rest of the family while the men were
away on hunting or fishing trips or out gathering food such as fruits.

The women were only invited to watch wrestling matches and ball games. They were not
allowed to participate. They formed the cheering committee.

Economic Organisation
These are the main activities that the Tainos did in their quest to provide food, ‘clothing' and
shelter for their people. They can be considered a step above the early hunters and gatherers.

Hunting
They hunted conies (utia/hutia) and birds with nets and noose that they made from fibres and
vines. They also hunted iguanas, agouti and snakes. They also went in search of and gathered
wild plants and the bark of certain trees as directed by their priests to be used for medicinal
purposes. In the hills of Trinidad and Jamaica for example a lot of wild fruits grew in abundance.
These were gleefully collected and added to the main menu.

Farming
The Tainos practiced subsistence farming. That is they did not produce and store a surplus. They
produced enough for the needs of the community. They practiced slash and burn agriculture. The
men did the hard work of clearing the land. They used wooden axes to chop the branches from
the trees and then set them on fire.

The women's duty was to do the actual planting. They planted roots, seeds and vegetables on
their small plots of land or conoucos. They used pointed wooden sticks to dig holes and drop the
corn grains in. corn or maize was their favourite starch. Then they covered them over with dirt.
The ashes from the burnt tree provided fertilizer. Aided by the children they watered the crops as
necessary. It was the children's duty to scare away birds from the newly planted seeds.

They grew a wide variety of crops such as:

● Fruits: pineapples, guava, naseberry, cashew, soursop, papaya and grapefruit (the only
citrus known to them before the coming of the Europeans)
● Cassava
● Sweet potatoes

Fishing
They would go fishing in the dug-out canoes that they made. They used nets made of vegetable
fibres, bone and turtle shell hooks and bone tipped harpoons. They had an ingenious method of
attaching the remora or sucking fish to the canoe by a thin line. The fish would then dart after the
remora hoping to eat it but would only succeed in getting itself sucked onto the powerful remora.
The fisherman would then pull up the remora, take off the fish and deposit the remora once more
in the water to wait for another victim.

Waterfowls were also caught by trickery. The Tainos would allow a number of calabashes to float
on the river. The waterfowls became used to these harmless objects and paid them no mind. As
soon as he was convinced that the fowls were relaxed, the Taino would place a calabash over his
head and quietly slip into the water unnoticed. After a few minutes he would grab a nearby fowl
by the legs, pull it under until it drowned and then put it in the bag that he carried with him. They
caught a wide variety of water animals such as: flying fish, shellfish, crabs and manatee.

Weaving
Hammocks were a favourite item. They were used as beds or just to ‘hang out' and catch the cool
breeze. They also made baskets from straw. These were used as containers for the fisherman's
catch.
Mining
The indigenous peoples did not place much value on gold. They used it mainly as ornaments.
The method of collecting gold was therefore very simple. They would dig a hole at the side of
the river bank and let the water flow through it. They would examine the silt that was left behind.
Any gold found was collected and given to those in charge of making decorative headdress for
the caciques, masks for religious ceremonies or nose rings and bracelets.

Trading
Trading was limited. First, they produced basically the same things. Secondly, the Tainos'
villages were constantly raided by the Kalinagos. Thirdly, they did not engage in surplus
production. They provided just enough for their own use. It was not safe to venture too far out at
sea where the Kalinagos ruled the ‘highway'.

Whatever trading took place was among the Tainos themselves. Different villages would contact
each other when there was a need. It is interesting to note that the Tainos of Jamaica did engage
in some amount of trading with the Mayans of Belize. If you follow on your map you will see
that a straight line connects Jamaica to Belize. This is the route that the logwood people followed
in the 17th century.

Technology
The Indigenous people lived in the Stone Age. They did not know iron. Their tools were
therefore very simple. Most people consider their techniques and methods backwards when
judged by modern methods. Their technology included:

● The remora or sucking fish used in to catch fish

● Bows and arrows used in hunting
● Slash and burn agriculture
● Fertilizer: ashes, animal and vegetable manure
● Crude irrigation ditches
● Crop rotation.
● Fishing hooks made from bones
● Fire used as a tool in canoe building
● Dyeing of cloth
 The Kalinago

Political Structure
This was not as rigid or as well defined as the Tainos. The position of chief or Ouboutou
(Ubutu) was not hereditary. It was NOT passed down from father to son. Instead, the chief
was elected on the basis of his prowess that is his bravery. As a result there was constant rivalry
for leadership. The leaders also changed frequently.

The chief's main duty was to organize the people in his community for hunting, fishing and war.
He had the most duties during war time. He was responsible for planning the raids. He chose the
captains of each canoe (piraga). A canoe could hold up to 50 persons. He shared out the prizes
or rewards to those who were successful in the hunting expeditions or the raids.
At the end of an expedition he could lose his position if someone proved to be braver than he
was. On their return home, that person would automatically replace him.

In peacetime, the villages were ruled by the Tiubutuli Hauthe. He did not dispense justice that
was considered to be a personal affair. If someone did you wrong, you were expected to avenge
yourself. There were very few laws. The men were away too often on raids or hunting and
fishing expeditions. When they were in the village, they spent most of their time undergoing
warrior training.

Social Organisation (involves religious beliefs & practices, customs and Gender Relations)

Religious Beliefs and Practices

The Kalinagos were polytheistic. They also believed in many gods. They believed in evil spirits
known as maboya. The priest had the power to pray to the gods to turn back evil.
They believed
● In the forces of evil.
● In life after death.
● In the existence of Heaven and hell.
● That there is punishment and reward in the afterlife.
● Those who were brave warriors went to a place where they were waited on by Tainos
slaves.
● That the souls of cowards went to a dreary desert where they became slaves to Tainos
masters.
 ● The priest or boyez was the only one who could communicate with the gods.
● In offering sacrifices to the gods especially when they went to sea.
● In using tobacco (incense) in the process of communicating with the gods.
● In having festivals and celebrations in honor of the gods.
● In keeping the gods happy (appeasing the gods).
● In offering prayers to the gods for bravery.

NB: Both the Tainos and the Kalinagos believed in nature and ancestor worship.

Gender relations
Women were also a very important part of the Kalinagos society. Gender relation is also most
clearly seen in the division and organization of labour.
● The women were needed for the planting of the crops. It was believed that the fertility of
the woman would transfer to the crop and vice versa. If she was barren, mother earth
would transfer some of its fertility to her.
● They were to care for the children and the rest of the family while the men were away on
their raids, long hunting or fishing trips.
● The women were only invited to watch wrestling matches. They were not allowed to
participate. They formed the cheering committee.
● Men and women lived separately. The men believed that they would become weak and be
like ‘sissy' if they lived with the women. So the men lived together in the carbet while
the women and children lived by themselves.
● The boys were then separated from their mothers. At age ten they joined the men in the
carbet and began to prepare for their manhood initiation ceremony.

Customs
Every society has its own sets of customs and norms. This is what defines us and sets us apart
from other people and countries. The indigenous peoples were no different.

● Men and women lived separately.

● Painting of the body to look fierce especially when going on raids.
● They did not eat turtles. They thought it would make them slow and stupid.
● They ate a lot of pepper. It was believed that this would make them fierce.
● They flattened their foreheads from an early age. This was to make the arrow bounce off
should they get hit in the forehead during battle.
● They often hung the skull and or bones of their victims in their houses like trophies.
 ● All boys were required to undergo an initiation test when they reached puberty.
● They were scratched with an agouti claw and pepper rubbed in the wound. If they bore it
without flinching they were chosen to be a warrior. If they flinched, they would be
numbered among the priests.

Economic Organisation
Seagoing, fishing and trading were more important to the Kalinago men than hunting or
agriculture, although they were better at hunting than the Tainos. They excel at seamen and were
good at navigating their way around the islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Technology
The Indigenous people lived in the Stone Age. They did not know iron. Their tools were
therefore very simple. Most people consider their techniques and methods backwards when
judged by modern methods. Their technology included:

● Poisonous bow and arrow

● Weaving straw baskets
● Canoe building
● Art of Dyeing

TOPIC: Motives and Factors for Columbus' Voyages

The motives for Columbus’ voyages can be explained using the 4 Gs: God, Goods, Gold and
Glory.
⮚ God: In the fifteenth century, all of Europe was Christian except for small parts in the
south east and south west which were held by people of the Muslim faith. The Muslims
controlled a large portion of the Old World from Africa in the west all the way around to
western Asia. There was much rivalry between these two religions to see who could gain
the most converts and the Muslims were leading which angered the Christians. The
Christians in Europe were eager to discover new lands where they hoped to find heathens
that they could convert to Christianity and increase the membership of their religion as
the Muslims had done in the East.

⮚ Goods: Many merchants in Europe had more than a religious reason for hating the
Muslims. The Arab lands formed a barrier between Europe and the East, for example,
 India. They charged the Europeans high taxes to pass through their territory to get to the
East Indies. It is even said that the route was dangerous because zealous Muslims often
attacked, raided and killed traders as they passed through the area. What the Europeans
needed was a direct route by sea (transoceanic) that they controlled:
a. This would be less dangerous
b. The goods would be cheaper since they would not have to pay any taxes to use the sea
c. They would make more profits
d. They could carry far more in a ship than they could on camels' back through the
Middle East

⮚ Gold: The Europeans also hoped to find gold and other precious minerals on the other
side of the world. This would make them more powerful.

⮚ Glory: Who would be the first to discover this new trade route by sea? This required
exploration by brave sailors willing to risk their lives and their reputation, but whoever
did it would certainly be famous. They would be richly rewarded by the King and Queen
and they would go down in history forever. They would have helped to shape the course
of history for the entire Europe. What a glory that would be.

Factors that Aided Exploration (What developments or inventions aided the Europeans in their
exploration?)
⮚ Support given by the Spanish monarchy.

⮚ Wind systems and ocean currents

⮚ The route taken by Columbus: get to the east by sailing westward.

⮚ Development of Navigational Instruments: Improved compass and astrolabe and

quadrants were introduced.

⮚ Improvement in cartography: map making. Maps were now more accurate as they

included territories in the east.

⮚ Improvement in shipbuilding- new types of ships were built in the 14th and 15th centuries.
The steering was also improved so instead of two steering oars there was a rudder at the
stern. An extra mast was added to make the ship go faster. The main sails were no longer
triangular but square.
 ⮚ The development of gunpowder meant that more people would be willing to go on long
sea voyages since they could better defend themselves.

Voyages
⮚ First Voyage: 1492-93

⮚ Second Voyage: 1493-96

⮚ Third Voyage: 1498-1500

⮚ Fourth Voyage: 1502-04

Territories Encountered
San Salvador, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Martinique, Panama/Central
America, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles

TOPIC: Impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous People

The Spaniards believed that their culture and way of life was superior to that of the Indigenous
Peoples that they conquered. Therefore they set about to establish their way of life. Their actions
had several impacts on the Indigenous Peoples.

1. New crops and animals introduced: The Spaniards introduced all citrus except the grapefruit
which the Indigenous peoples already had. They also introduced bananas, grapes and sugar cane
among others. They also raised fowls (chickens) , pigs, cows, goats and even sheep. Thus the
natives were introduced to a wider variety of meat though we do not know for sure to what
extent they actually ate these new foods.

2. Cultural Imposition:

a. There were changes in Indigenous religious practises due to forced conversion to

Christianity.
b. New methods : The indigenous peoples were forcibly introduced to new ways of doing
a number of things:
i. The Spaniards used horses for transportation.
ii. The Spanish practiced surplus production. For example, they established
haciendas or ranches on which they reared cattle for its meat and hides to sell to
passing ships.
iii. They erected large stone buildings such as government offices and churches. They
also built different types of houses using different materials and of Spanish or
 European architecture. The entire landscape changed. Villages were rapidly
converted into towns.
iv. They were forced to accept the new Spanish system of government. Their own
political system with the Chief and nobles ruling was totally ignored. In fact there
were instances where even the chief was put to work in the mines. The Spaniards
showed no regard or respect for these people.

c. New Culture: A new language: Spanish replaced the many languages of the Indigenous
Peoples. At first there was a terrible language barrier. With time a new kind of patois
developed. The indigenous people also had to give up their religious practices as they
were forcibly converted to Christianity.

3. Genocide of the Indigenous Peoples: In a short time the natives became extinct. For
example, in 1493, there were approximately 300,000 Tainos in Hispaniola. By the end of 1496,
only three years later two thirds of them were dead. They were exterminated due to several
reasons. The idle intruders played all sorts of deadly games with the scared and defenseless
natives. For example, they placed bets to see who could chop off a Taino's head with one blow of
the machete. They were also killed by the thousands in battle with the Europeans. The
Amerindians' simple weapons were no match for the Europeans' guns and cannons. To make
matters worse, the Indigenous Peoples were on foot while the Europeans were on horseback. The
latter had a distinct advantage with their long-range weapons. The newcomers realized that the
natives were terrified of dogs. They used some vicious bloodhounds to literally tear the
indigenous peoples to pieces. Some were killed in raids by the newcomers for food, land and
women. One example of this was in Hispaniola at La Navidad in 1493. They were overworked in
the mines and on the ranches. The natives were not used to this kind of strenuous work. Many of
them died from exhaustion and respiratory related illnesses.

5. Introduction of deadly diseases: The Spaniards did not only bring animals and plants with
them across the Atlantic. They introduced deadly diseases that the Indigenous Peoples had no
immunity to nor cure for, such as smallpox, typhus, influenza, chicken pox and measles. This
weakened the indigenous people and could wipe out an entire village.

6. Forced Labour/Enslavement: Forced labour or system of enslavement were introduced.

Under the Repartimiento System the natives were forced to pay taxes to the Europeans. All
males 14 years and older were required to pay a hawk's bell full of gold every three months. All
others were required to pay 25 pounds of spun cotton or be subjected to several weeks of unpaid
labor.

In 1502, the Governor of Hispaniola, Don Nicholas de Ovando instituted the Encomienda
System. It was intended to be a labor system but in practice it was a slave system. A number of
Indigenous Peoples were shared out to a Spanish land owner. He was supposed to provide food
and shelter for them and see to it that they were converted to Christianity. In return they were to
provide him with labor for his land. That did not happen. The encomendero (master) overworked
the natives either in the mines or on his farm. They were underfed, ill-treated and not given
adequate medical attention. They had to produce enough to feed the encomendero and
themselves. They also labored on roads, bridges and massive buildings such as Churches.

7. Rape and Sexual Relations: The intruders raped the Indigenous women. This was
particularly rampant in the earlier period of colonization when there were only a few women in
the New World. They had not yet migrated in large numbers. Sexual contact between the
Indigenous Peoples and the Europeans led to the creation of a new group of people known as
‘Mestizos'.

8. Destruction of Property

a. The animals that the Spanish introduced roamed the area freely trampling the crops and
food supply of the natives. The lazy settlers were unwilling to provide the necessary
fencing that would keep them out of the plots and provision grounds.

b. The intruders deliberately destroyed the gods and houses of the Indigenous People. This
was some sort of joke and game to them.

TOPIC: Impact of Indigenous People on the Europeans

1. New plants introduced: Indigenous peoples had been growing tobacco for medicinal and
ritual purposes for centuries before European contact. European colonists took up the habit of
smoking, and they brought it across the Atlantic.

2. Diseases: Syphilis has been described as a New World disease that Columbus and his men
acquired because of their sexual contact with indigenous women.

3. New Foods introduced: The Europeans were introduced to new foods such as tomatoes,
cacao, chilli peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize, and cassava (also known as manioc).

4. The indigenous people acted as guides for Columbus and his men taking them from island to
island and showing them areas where gold could be found.

5. The indigenous people taught the Europeans words from their language to facilitate
communication eg. Canoa-canoe, barbacoa-barbecue