Government
the role of a cacique (chief) in Taino villages
the leader who made decisions and kept the village organized?
what the taino ate
Didn’t the Taino eat a lot of crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn?
The Taino belief in spirits and gods
Didn’t the Taino believe in powerful spirits and gods that controlled nature and their lives?
Types of homes in Taino culture
Didn’t the Taino have two main types of homes: bohíos for common people and caneys for chiefs?
how did the Tainos choose their leader
chosen by family, passed down from father to son?
Importance of fishing in Taino diet
Wasn’t fishing a big part of the Taino diet, with fish like manatee and turtle as staples?
Main Taino gods
Wasn’t Yocahu the most important god, who represented the spirit of cassava, the sea, and the life-giving forces of nature?
Structure of a bohio
Wasn’t a bohio a circular home, usually made for the common people, designed to be small and practical for everyday living?
Decisions made by the cacique for the people
Wouldn’t the cacique decide things like food, trade, and how to handle conflicts?
How the Taino prepared their food
Did the Taino cook their food by baking it in an underground oven called a barbacoa or roasting it over fire?
The Taino's connection to ancestors
Did the Taino believe in honoring their ancestors and seeking their guidance through spiritual ceremonies and rituals?
Structure of a caney
Wasn’t a caney a rectangular-shaped home, larger and more elaborate, designed for the cacique (chief) and located at the center of the village?
The Taino's group of leaders or council to help with decisions
Didn’t the cacique have a group of advisors and other leaders to help with decisions?
Taino beverages
Didn’t the Taino drink a special drink called chicha made from fermented cassava or fruits?
The Taino’s spiritual leaders
Didn’t the Taino have spiritual leaders called behique who served as shamans, healers, and guides in religious practices?
Location of homes in the village
Were bohíos spread out across the village, while the caney was placed at the center, symbolizing the chief’s central role in the community?
Settling arguments between different villages or groups
Didn’t the cacique have a group of advisors and other leaders to help with decisions?
How Taino people grew their food
Didn’t the Taino use a method called swidden agriculture, clearing land for crops like yams and beans?
The Taino belief in the afterlife
Did the Taino believe in an afterlife, where souls went to a place called Coaybay, a peaceful resting place for the spirits of the dead?
Symbolic importance of the caney
Didn’t the caney symbolize the chief’s power and leadership, with its central location and larger size making it stand out in the village?