Ompare the Main Features of the Political and Social Organization of the Aztec and Tainos.

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Compare the main features of the political and social organization of the Aztec and Tainos. (30 marks) The Tainos dotted the islands of the Caribbean from Bahamas to the Venezuelan coast, but for the most part they occupied the islands of Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Cuba. They lived in large villages with between 1500- 5000 people and up to 50 houses all made of wood and thatch. They were round with conical roofs called a caneye and were irregularly arranged around a central plaza. The Cacique’s home was larger and better built than the rest and was suited on the plaza; this house was rectangular and called a bohio. The Cacique slept on wooden platforms whilst most Tainos slept in hammocks. Villages were loosely organized into districts chiefdoms which were grouped into regional chiefdoms. These chiefdoms were ruled by Caciques and consisted of a single village of several families. For example, in 1500, Hispaniola had five or six chiefdoms for a population of 500,000 and Puerto Rico had 18 chiefdoms for a population of 45,000. The Cacique obviously had people who helped in running these chiefdoms; they were called Nitainos, Beheques and Naborias. Both men and women were eligible to serve as chiefs as this position was inherited along matrilineal lines. Although the Cacique had helpers he still had many responsibilities to carry out. He was responsible for the daily activities of the village, he provided public transportation because he owned the largest canoe, he was responsible for storing surplus commodities and they acted as host when villagers were received; as the guest arrived they would sit on a bubo. In the case of war the Cacique was the head of military operations mainly because most of these activities were aimed at extending and sanctioning the Cacique’s prestige, to resolve disputes over hunting or fishing rights or to force a Cacique

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