Taino Flashcards
Who were the Tainos
The original inhabitants of Jamaica are called the Tainos. They came from South America 2,500 years ago and named the island Xaymaca, which meant “land of wood and water”.
The Taino diet
The Tainos were skilled agriculturalists ( farmers) who grew their crops on small farms called CONUCOS.
Tainos diet 2
The Tainos ate a lot of fruit and vegetables.
They made an intoxicating drink from cassava and maize.
The Tainos cooked with a lot of pepper and salt.
They also ate the cassava.
They would squeeze out the poisonous juice from the cassava before making flour.
Tainos diet 3
They also enjoyed the agouti and iguana meat.
They ate a large amount of fish from which they obtained protein since they were good hunters and fishermen.
Most of their foods were stewed, roasted or baked. The Tainos women were the main ones who were engaged in the farming activities
Food ig idk
Corn, a yellow snake, manioc, agouti, Otaheite apple, manatee/sea cow
Government organization
The Cacique or chief was the political leader- he governed the people. To assist him, the Cacique had a council of wise men or nobles called – Mitaynos
As the Cacique he was treated special
Carried on litter
Allowed many wives
Given the best food
His house was built for him
Ceremonial stool to sit on during worship
The cacique ceremonial stool
Taino duhos
Life as a Taino
The Tainos lived in round huts made of wood called - a CANEYE
The Cacique lived in a rectangular hut called a BOHIO
Religious orgainzations
The Tainos were polytheistic (belief in many gods). Worshipped nature and their ancestors.
They made zemis which represented the sky god and an earth goddess.
They also believed in Life after death in the coyaba (heaven).
Religious organizations 2
The priest was the only one who could communicate with the zemis.
The Role of the Priest He had the power to communicate with the zemis only.
He used a large amount of tobacco, which allowed him to communicate with the zemis.
Recreation (what they did for fun)
They chewed tobacco and played a ball game called batos.
The Tainos women also engaged in a great deal of dancing and singing– Arieto
The women and men dance separately, but sometimes they danced together.
The Tainos called the tobacco plant cohiba, and tobacco also referred to the pipe in which the leaves were smokes
Contributions to jamaica’s culture (food)
Cassava, guava, pepper pot soup, cashews, maize, peanuts and potatoes
Ice age
An ice age is a time when thick ice sheets called glaciers cover huge areas of land.
An ice age may last for millions of years and can cause big changes to Earth’s surface. Ice ages have happened a number of times throughout Earth’s history.
The work they have to do (men)
Hunting – with their Alcos- their barkless dog
Fishing
Clearing the land
The work the females have to do
Farming
Preparation of meals
Took care of the household
