Indigenous People in Trinidad

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Trinidad history In 1498 Christopher Columbus re discovered Trinidad in the name of Spain. Trinidad was re discovered as the island was already populated with the indigenous people: the Amerindians. The Amerindians led simple lifestyles of farming and hunter gatherer. Although it took Spain some one hundred years to colonize the island the effects of their presence would forever change life for the Amerindians. Spanish colonization led to the decimation of indigenous population. The indigenous people of Trinidad were known as the Amerindians. Those naive to Trinidad were of the Arawak and Carib tribes. The Arawaks were said to be peaceful and engaged in planting crops like cassava and maize, making pottery and woodcarving. Whilst the Caribs were nomadic and often referred to as warlike as they sought to conquer new territory. They liked to hunt for food and fish. Both the Arawaks and Caribs had division of labour according to gender. The men did the actual planting but it was the women that tended to the crops. When the Spanish colonized the island the role and lives of the indigenous people would forever change. Columbus sought the new world for three main reasons to seek Glory, gain Gold and spread Christianity; God. After arriving on the island he would soon realize that it lacked the precious metal he was seeking. This would delay the interest in the island and slow the colonization. Despite being under developed the Indians felt the cruelty of the spaniards from early. Since the island had no precious metals but neighboring islands did the Indians fell victim to slave raids. The indigenous people were seized for slave labour in the greater Antilles. Bartolome de las Casas a famous defender of the Indians spoke of one slave raid where the Indians were tricked into entering a house built for the Spanish and were captured. Whenever anyone tried to escape

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