The Amerindians
Origin
Mongols from Asia moved with food.
Mongols traveled across the Bering Strait, which had formed an ice bridge, following
migrating deer. They entered North America and traveled to Central America, where some
settled and became the Maya. Their journey continued to South America (Guyana,
Venezuela), where the Taino and Kalingo came into existence. These two groups started to
migrate; the Taino moved through the Orinoco River, entered the Caribbean Sea, moved
through the Lesser Antilles, and arrived in the Greater Antilles. Some settled in Trinidad. The
Kalinagoes followed them and settled in the Lesser Antilles, some settled in the Greater
Antilles.
Ciboneys/Siboneys - Cave Dwellers, lived in the Caribbean before the Amerindians
Strait - a narrow passage of water connecting two other large areas of water.
Amerindian Settlement Patterns
Tainos - located mainly in large islands, Greater Antilles
Jamaica, Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba
Small villages, settled close to water sources, hillsides
Their lifestyle promoted a settled and structured society, these included farming, a major
activity as they had to plant and wait for crops to be harvested in close permanence. The gods
were associated with aspects of nature that affected economic activity. For example, the river
and zemis in the form of animals. Types of housing constructed a lifestyle that was not
normal. Their leadership structure developed into a hierarchical structure, which allowed the
organization of economic activities. Their crafts, for example, were basketry and poetry,
which led to battering/trading; to do this they would travel by canoe in a water body.
Communication, for example, boat building and other activities, and language skills were
also needed to trade. Gender roles allowed for the division of labour for example
women - planting, food prep
men - slash and burn, hunting
choice of location of a village near water sources for farming and fishing
Kalinagoes
Very nomadic in nature
Small villages
Near the sea
Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles