Caribbean Arawak Trade Networks

Timeline

1. 1400–1406Lesser Antilles · Lesser AntillesArawak groups used trade winds and the island-chain terrain to establish regular routes with large dugout canoes (canoa) between the windward and leeward islands, conducting barter and exchanging information at coastal shell-midden settlements and river-mouth nodes.
2. 1406–1450Greater Antilles · Greater AntillesArchaeology shows that shell ornaments, stone tools, and pottery styles are highly homogeneous across the islands, indicating that the Arawak trade network not only carried practical goods but also spread craft techniques and ritual symbols, strengthening cultural ties among the various cacicazgos.