Caribbean Taíno Societies

Timeline

1. 1451–1460Hispaniola · Greater AntillesHispaniola was divided into roughly five major cacicazgos, of which Maguana and Magua were the strongest. Each cacique ruled several yucayeque (villages), establishing authority through tribute, dispute mediation, and presiding over ceremonies; wars were limited in scale and mostly aimed at captives and tribute.
2. 1451–1460Sea lanes between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands · Greater AntillesTaíno staple foods were cassava, maize, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, supplemented by fishing, hunting, and gathering. Canoes carried pottery, cotton cloth, shell ornaments, and salt between islands, forming a regional exchange network. Shell-carved zemí (ancestor images) served both as sacred objects and trade goods.
3. 1451–1460Eastern Cuba · CubaTaíno held areíto song-and-dance ceremonies, ancestor worship, and communal feasts; ball games (batos) played in plazas served both entertainment and religious purposes. The behique (shaman) was responsible for healing, divination, and communicating with ancestral spirits, holding a prominent place in community life.