Define the Following Terms: Tainos (Arawak)

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The Answer is The Tainos, also known as the Arawak, were an indigenous people of the Caribbean. They are believed to have originated in South America and migrated to the islands of the Caribbean Sea, where they were the principal inhabitants at the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The Tainos were part of a larger group of Amerindian peoples known as the Arawakan-speaking peoples, who spoke a language belonging to the Arawakan language family.

The Tainos were divided into three main groups: the Classic Tainos, who lived in Hispaniola (modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas; the Western Tainos, who inhabited Cuba and the western part of Hispaniola; and the Eastern Tainos, who were found in the Lesser Antilles.

Taino society was organized into chiefdoms or cacicazgos, each ruled by a cacique or chief. Their culture was characterized by a subsistence economy based on agriculture, fishing, and gathering. They cultivated crops such as cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, maize (corn), and various fruits. They were also skilled at crafting objects from wood, stone, bone, and shell, and they built large ceremonial centers, some of which included ball courts.

The Tainos are perhaps best known for their contributions to the world's food supply, with foods like cassava, sweet potatoes, and peppers originating from their agricultural practices. They also introduced the world to the hammock, the canoe, and the word "hurricane," which comes from their god of storms, Huracán.

Unfortunately, the arrival of Europeans led to a rapid decline in the Taino population, primarily due to diseases brought by the Europeans, against which the Tainos had no immunity, as well as harsh treatment and forced labor under Spanish rule. Despite this, Taino cultural elements have survived and are still present in the Caribbean today, and some people of the Caribbean still identify as Taino or of Taino descent.

Define the Following Terms: Tainos (Arawak)

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