The Arawak: Definition and History

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History indicates there were numerous smaller tribes within the Arawak Nation. The two largest tribes were the Taíno, living in the Caribbean, and the Lokono in South America.

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The Arawak people represent an indigenous community situated across South America and the Caribbean Antilles. While the precise origins of the Arawak remain unknown, consensus suggests they originated in the region spanning Colombia and Venezuela between the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. Over time, they expanded their territories, migrating towards the Orinoco River delta and subsequently to the Lesser and Greater Antilles by the 13th century. The reason behind their migrations remains a subject of speculation.

 

Arawak People and Culture

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In South America, the Arawak settled along the riverbanks of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, adopting a lifestyle similar to that of neighboring tribes within the Amazonian rainforest. They practiced sedentary agriculture alongside hunting and fishing, dwelling in modest communal settlements. Conversely, in the Antilles, the Arawak Tainos inhabited larger villages across the Caribbean islands, employing slash-and-burn agriculture alongside hunting small game and fishing.

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All The Arawak, but primarily the Taino, maintained a rich cultural heritage and had their own written language, mainly drawings. Following the invasion by a lost explorer known to many as “Columbus,” their linguistic tradition faced near-extinction in the Caribbean islands. Nevertheless, remnants of their language endure as the most widespread indigenous South American linguistic group, persisting in regions such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. Notably, several Arawak Taino-origin words have seamlessly integrated into the English vocabulary, including "canoe," "hammock," "barbecue," "tobacco," "hurricane," and "Cuba."

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Tragically, the Arawak  Taino fell swiftly under the dominion of Spanish invaders. Vulnerable to European diseases like smallpox, many succumbed, while the remainder faced enslavement or execution at the hands of the invaders. Forced into slavery, with tasks such as cultivating cash crops, they endured starvation and harsh conditions, leading to a rapid decline in their numbers. Within half a century of Spanish arrival, the Antillean Arawak Taino faced virtual extinction, with survivors assimilating into Spanish or African communities, hastening the destruction of Arawak-Taino culture in the Caribbean. Indeed, historians have characterized the treatment of the Arawak by the Spanish as nothing short of an atrocity.

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Community and Agriculture:

Cacique and Conuco

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The social organization within Arawak communities exhibited notable distinctions between those in South America and those inhabiting the Caribbean Islands. In South America, community structures were characterized by small, self-sufficient entities devoid of rigid hierarchy or extensive organization. Conversely, Arawak communities in the Antilles boasted larger populations and a more defined social framework.

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Within the island communities, patrilineal society prevailed. It revolved around the cacique, akin to a village chief or leader within Arawak society. The cacique, regarded as the community's patriarch, wielded substantial authority, effectively presiding over what functioned as miniature kingdoms. Leadership roles were often hereditary, passed down within familial lines.

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Polygamy was common among the Arawak, with most men having two to three wives, while caciques could have upwards of 30 spouses. Due to the accompanying wealth and status, the position of a cacique's wife held considerable prestige, and their offspring were automatically elevated to nobility. As a token of respect and homage, the community bestowed crops upon the cacique, and specialized canoes were crafted for their use.

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Social stratification within these communities typically delineated between commoners and slaves, reflecting varying levels of access to resources and social standing.

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Arawak Religion

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Central to Arawak spirituality was the veneration of spirits, known as zemis. Alongside nature and ancestor worship, they believed in protective magic, attributing control over phenomena like wind, rain, sickness, and hurricanes to these spirits. Zemis were represented by statues crafted from wood, stone, or shell, often depicting animals or humans. Individuals wore amulets to ward off malevolent spirits inhabiting rocks, trees, and rivers. Offerings and prayers to spirits were exclusively conducted through shamans, who presided over sacred huts at the village periphery. The shaman orchestrated ceremonies to appease spirits and make offerings, with the entire community adorning themselves with special attire, paint, or charms.