Taíno Culture
Overview
The Taíno were an indigenous people of the Caribbean and were the principal inhabitants of Pre-Columbian Puerto Rico. The Taíno were the first New World peoples encountered by Christopher Columbus during his 1492 voyage. Learn about many of the customs and the language of the Taíno people!
Requirements
1. Do the following:
- a. Collect at least 10 items related to the customs of the Taínos. They can be originals, replicas, a photo collection, handicrafts and other artifacts. It can be a group collection, which should be varied with at least three objects from each participant.
- b. Visit a museum or indigenous settlement where different aspects of the Taíno culture are exhibited, or see an exhibition with objects from the Taíno culture. Discuss with your group what interested you the most and why.
2. Define at least 10 of the following words:
- a. Archaics
- b. Yucayeque
- c. Cacique
- d. Caney
- e. Conucos
- f. Guanín
- g. Bija
- h. Nagua
- i. Areyto
- j. Nitaínos
- k. Bohíque
- l. Naborias
- m. Guasábaras
- n. Coatí
- o. Taínos
3. Mention 10 typical foods of the Taínos.
4. Mention the names of five caciques.
5. Mention five physical characteristics of the Taínos.
6. What is a petroglyph? Draw two figures related to the Taíno culture.
7. Mention four materials they used for their housework.
8. Mention two religious beliefs of the Taínos.
9. Which of the Taino religious beliefs are practiced today?
10. Name 10 Taíno words that are still used.
Answer key & resources
Adapted from AY Honors/Taíno Culture on the Pathfinder Wiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. See the original page's history for its authors.
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