Historical Process-Migratory Movements to the Caribbean (PDF)

HISTORICAL PROCESS-MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SETTLEMENT PATTERNS  OBJECTIVES Analyze the Caribbean Diaspora Appreciate how a knowledge of history deepens an understanding of Caribbean social life Assess the diversity and complexity in Caribbean s...

HISTORICAL PROCESS-MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SETTLEMENT PATTERNS  OBJECTIVES Analyze the Caribbean Diaspora Appreciate how a knowledge of history deepens an understanding of Caribbean social life Assess the diversity and complexity in Caribbean society and culture Explain the areas Caribbean national migrated to INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE CARIBBEAN  The Pre-Columbian period refers to the period before the arrival of Columbus in the Americas (that is, that period prior to 1492). When Columbus landed in Hispaniola (modern day Haiti and The Dominican Republic) in 1492, he mistakenly believed that he landed in the East. This is the reason he called the region the Indies and referred to the indigenous people as “Indians”.  The indigenous people or Amerindians that Columbus met in Hispaniola were called the Taino people. It was later discovered that in other islands in the Caribbean there was another indigenous group call the Kalinagos (or Caribs). It is believed that the Caribbean got its name from the Caribs who were so aggressive towards the Europeans. MIGRATORY PATTERNS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE  It is believed that the indigenous people who eventually found they way into the Caribbean were among those nomadic people who cross the Bering Strait. This is a narrow bridge or tunnel between the peninsula of Serbia ( in modern day Russia) and the peninsula of Alaska (in modern day USA) which was likely frozen at the time.  They then travelled southward into the Americas. Historians believed that they were following herds of animals which they needed for food and shelter. Furthermore, competition between the groups might cause warfare between them which made it difficult to create a fix settlement.  Eventually, they reached Central America and created boats or ships that carried them into the Caribbean. This is not difficult to believe because the Taino and Kalinago people were able to craft extensive boats for fishing.  The Kalinago people settled in islands in the Lesser Antilles – Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia etc. The Taino people settled in islands in the Greater Antilles – Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, The Bahamas and Puerto Rico.  Both the Taino and Kalinago people settled on Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico.  It is argued that the Taino people (who were mainly peaceful) island hopped upwards into the Greater Antilles because they were harassed by the warlike Kalinago people. However, several studies have suggested that while the Taino people were generally peaceful, they were also able to wage war.  Indeed, many Taino communities went to war with each other for fishing and land rights. Furthermore, in Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico, the Taino people were able to protect themselves. Columbus also recorded that all his men were killed by the Taino people in Hispaniola TAINO PEOPLE  Family – village settlements along river valleys, coastal areas Social Organizations – women did farming (slash and burn), men did the hunting and fishing, society was hierarchical, men and women lived together in the same household and raised children  Government – led by a Cacique who inherited his rule. The Cacique was a religious leader and was therefore a high priest and judge. He settled all disputes. He was assisted by elderly men called mitaynos.  Customs – flattened forehead of babies, singing, dancing, smoking tobacco, playing batos. Smoking was very important because it allows them to communicate with the spirits.  Food – seafoods (fish, crabs and shrimp), vegetables, pepper, pepper pot soup, cassava, iguana, small dogs and other small animals. Barbeque.  Architecture –houses made of thatch, straws, wood and poles. The Cacique house was usually the biggest and rectangular to distinguish from the others. Farming methods – women did the farming (but men must have assisted to help to do strenuous work such as digging etc), slash and burn farming, farming for subsistence, primitive tools  Technology – canoes (boats that could trade with other islands and sometimes to Central America), stone tools, spears, bows and arrows, straw baskets, hammocks etc  Religion – Believed in spiritualisms, spirits takes the forms of zemis (which appeared in any shape and form), believed that the spirits were present in everything , led by the Cacique. THE KALINAGO/ CARIBS  APPEARANCE OF THE KALINAGOS The Kalinagos were of dark complexion with long straight black hair; and they were short and sturdy built. As such they were taller and stronger than the Tainos. Apart from that the Kalinagos were more decorative than the Tainos as they wore chains and pierced different sections of their bodies.  Family – village settlement Social organization – women did farming (often kidnapped Taino women to do this), men did hunting and fishing, society was very militaristic, men and women lived separately apart  Government – Led by the Ouboutou (chief leader), Leaders were elected from a test of bravery (usually from warfare and skills in battle), no organized system of justice, independent families Religion – spiritualistic, believed in evil spirts (maboya)  Customs – very decorative, singing, dancing, smoking tobacco. Initiation into manhood, boys had to go to school to learn how to fight, flattened babies' forehead, wore jewellery, paint faces (perhaps due to heat but gave them an aggressive appearance).  Food – similar to the Taino Architecture – rectangular houses made from indigeous materials (straws, wood, poles etc) Technology – similar to the Taino. ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS  When Columbus came to the Americas in 1492, he was treated fairly by the indigenous people who he saw in Hispaniola. There was evidence that the indigenous people were pleased by the “pale” men who brought them gifts. They were also very strange in their attire and so many of the Taino people thought of the as Gods (though this was shortlived).  Columbus would leave a group of his men on Hispaniola when he returned to Europe. Columbus wrote in his diary that they were primitive beings who could not protect themselves.  Believing that he had reached the East (India), he captured some of the indigeous people (by force) and took them back with him to Europe. Queen Isabella was so pleased that she made an Order that none of these “Indians” were to be harmed because they were now subjects of the Spanish Crown.  When Columbus returned to Hispaniola in 1493, all the Spanish men that remained were killed by the Taino people. The exact reason are unknown, but it could be that they overstayed their welcome or began to harass indigenous women.  Overall Columbus made four voyages to the New World, exploring the Lesser Antilles in 1493, Trinidad and the northern coast of South America in 1498, and the eastern coast of Central America in 1502. Many of the names he gave to geographical features—particularly islands—are still in use. THE AFRICANS Plantation Slavery prolonged in the Caribbean between the late 1500s until 1838 (when slaves were granted freedom) The Africans were imported to the Caribbean from as early as 1503 but this was in small numbers. They were imported in greater numbers by the 1520s due to the dwindling numbers of Indians.  When the other Europeans arrived, they too started to import the Africans because they did not have sufficient indigenous labourers. Africans were forced to travel across the Middle Passage to the Americas were they were sold to planters. The slave trade persisted in the Caribbean up to 1807  It is estimated that between the mid 1500s and 1807, some 15 million Africans were transported across the Middle Passage to the Caribbean, North America and Latin America regions. Africans were emancipated in the British Caribbean in 1838, in the French Caribbean in 1848 and various dates in the Spanish Caribbean. THE ASIANS When the slaves were emancipated, in larger Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, there was a labour crisis. The ex-slaves were willing to create a life away from the plantations. In most cases, they demanded high wages to return and work on the plantations.  Many planters complained and insisted that the British Government import workers. Workers came from Europe (but they died easily and refused to work), Africa (but it was discontinued because it resembled slave trading) and then Asia.  The Chinese came in small numbers but did not like plantation work. They were also very elusive, and planters complained that as soon as they were able they abandoned the plantations to create shops. They were also very expensive and the Chinese Government investigated their conditions regularly.  The Indians were willing to work. They came in large numbers and were familiar with sugar planting in India. Since India was a British colony, it was very cheap to import them. Many Indians came to settle in the Caribbean after their contracts ended. This created a plural society. They took black women as their wives and their offspring were called Dougla