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Who are the Nitainos?
The Taíno society was divided into two classes, the Nitaino, the nobility or upper class and the Naboria, the working or lower class. The Nitaino consisted of the cacique and his family, warriors and artists and ruled over the Naborias who were fishermen, hunters, and farmers.
Where did the Taínos come from?
The ancestors of the Taíno entered the Caribbean from South America. At the time of contact, the Taíno were divided into three broad groups, known as the Western Taíno (Jamaica, most of Cuba, and the Bahamas), the Classic Taíno (Hispaniola and Puerto Rico) and the Eastern Taíno (northern Lesser Antilles).
What were the Taíno known for?
Skilled at agriculture and hunting, Taínos were also good sailors, fishermen, canoe makers, and navigators. Their main crops were cassava, garlic, potatoes, yautías, mamey, guava, and anón. They had no calendar or writing system, and could count only up to twenty, using their hands and feet.
How did the Tainos look like?
In appearance the Taino were short and muscular and had a brown olive complexion and straight hair. They wore little clothes but decorated their bodies with dyes. Religion was a very important aspect of their lives and they were mainly an agricultural people although they did have some technological innovations.
What are the naborias and nitaínos?
They had the naborias, nitaínos, and the caciques. The naborias were considered the working class, the nitaínos were the sub-chiefs and noblemen, which also included their priests and medicine men — the bohiques, and the caciques was the highest rank — the chiefs. Each village, named yucayeques in their native language, had one.
What were the two classes of the Taíno society?
Taíno society was divided into two classes: Nitainos (nobles) and the Naborias (commoners). Both were governed by chiefs known as caciques, who were the maximum authority in a Yucayeque (village).
What happened to the Taínos?
Sadly, Taínos were exposed to dangers that were outside of their power. That danger wore a full name: Christopher Columbus. Though in their time Columbus was celebrated for discovering America (or the blatant robbery of the Americas), he suppressed an entire group of people.
How did Columbus deal with the Taínos and taínas?
In a very Columbus-style, he let greed take over him when he encountered the beauties that were the Taínos and Taínas. He quickly took over their land and forced them to follow Spain’s regime. Though they tried to fight back, Columbus and his Spanish crew had more advantage over them with their revolvers and other varieties of weapons.