Arawaks

The Arawaks are Amerindian of the Antilles resulting from the Amazon forest, close to the culture Saladoïde (this name is resulting from the site éponyme Venezuelan of Saladero). The name of Arawaks that one gave them does not designate people in particular but a linguistic family to which many Amerindian populations of Amazonia are attached of which the populations Kalinas or the Caribbean.

At the end of the 15th century century, Arawaks were dispersed in Amazonia, on all the Greater Antilles, with the the Bahamas, in Florida and on the buttresses of the the Andes.

Most known of the Arawaks tribes are the Taïnos which lived mainly on the island of Hispaniola, with Puerto Rico and in the oriental party of Cuba. Those which populated the the Bahamas called the Lucayan S.

They are populations Neolithic S practitioner the Agriculture, the fishing and the Cueillette, but they produced a typical Céramique extremely decorated by the technique with the Adorno and the white Peintures, black, ochers. The populations Amerindian born from the Antilles did not know the writing.

In their most recent phase (800-900 after J.C.) and to the Lesser Antilles, Arawaks are attached to the culture " suazoïde" , of the name of the site éponyme Venezuelan of Suazeï. Those were indicated a long time under the name of " Caribbean ".
These populations are not populations radically different from the populations saladoïdes. It is said that Arawak had a quite particular Doctrine as for the animals which they killed: they were excused and thanked them for their meat.

Contact with Europeans and genocide

Arawak are the first Amerindians to have had a contact with Europeans, i.e. Christophe Colomb and its crew. The boat of Colomb arrived then at the Bahamas, strange the large Navire attracted the curiosity of the Amerindians, who, filled with wonder, from went away to the stroke to the meeting of the visitors. When Colomb and its sailors unloaded, armed with their sword S, speaking their strange Langage, Arawak brought quickly to them food, water, gifts. Later Colomb will write this:
“They brought to us Perroquet S, Ballot S of Coton, Javelot S and many other things, which they exchanged against of the glass shots and of the Grelot S. They exchanged good heart all that they had. They were well built, with harmonious bodies and gracious faces They do not carry a Arme S - and do not know them besides, because when I showed them a sword, they took it by the blade and were cut, by ignorance. They do not know the Fer. Their javelins are made of Roseau X. They would make goods Serviteur S. With fifty men, one could control them all and make them do all that one wants. ”

Colomb, fascinated by these so hospital people will write later:
“As soon as I arrived at the Indies on the first island which I met, I seized by the force some Indigène S, so that they learn and can give me information on all that one could find in these areas. ”

See too

Internal bonds

Taíno
Caribbean Garifuna
People

External bonds

the Caribbean/Arawaks Conference of Benoit BERARD (University of the Antilles and Guyana)
Site of the Museum of Fort de France
of a tubular drum arawak
Arawak - Joshua Project

References

Random links:

Voudenay | Jacob-Bellecombette | A death without name | Shunya Yamashita | Avenue Henri-Martin