What was Arawak society like?
The Arawak/Taino society was basically a very gentle culture. It was characterized by happiness, friendliness and a highly organized hierarchical, paternal society, and a lack of guile. Each society was a small kingdom and the leader was called a cacique. Most men had 2 or 3 wives, but the caciques had as many as 30.
What did the Arawaks live in?
Arawak people slept in woven hammocks suspended from the wooden frame of the hut, rather than beds. Here is a page with pictures of Native American huts and other housing types. In some areas Arawak people still live in huts like these, but most Arawaks live in more modern housing today.
What were the Arawaks houses made of?
The usual Arawak house was round and constructed in the following way: wooden posts were put in the ground in a circle and canes were woven between them and tied with creepers. The roof was thatched in a conical shape and a hole left in the top through which the smoke could escape.
What was the Arawak House called?
House of the Cacique. The Arawaks used two primary architectural styles for their homes. The caciques were singled out for unique housing. Their houses were rectangular and even featured a small porch.
How does Columbus describe the Arawak?
When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. He later wrote of this in his log: They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance.
What kind of people were the Arawak?
The Arawak are an indigenous people that are believed to have originated in the basin of the Orinoco River, in Venezuela. They populated large areas of South America and the Caribbean Antilles. The two largest tribes were the Taíno, living in the Caribbean, and the Lokono in South America.
What is Arawak heritage?
The Arawak are a group of indigenous peoples of South America and of the Caribbean. Specifically, the term “Arawak” has been applied at various times to the Lokono of South America and the Taíno, who historically lived in the Greater Antilles and northern Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.
What is the definition of Arawaks?
Definition of Arawak 1 : a member of an Indian people of the Arawakan group now living chiefly along the coast of Guyana. 2 : the language of the Arawak people.
What does Arawak stand for?
/ ˈær əˌwɑk, -ˌwæk / PHONETIC RESPELLING. noun, plural Ar·a·waks, (especially collectively) Ar·a·wak for 1. a member of an Indian people once widespread in the Antilles but now living primarily in coastal northeastern South America.
What was the Arawak chief called?
cacique
The Arawak lived in small communities, and each had a leader, the cacique.
What are some Arawak names?
Arawakan Locations
| Present Island Name | Indigenous Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | Malliouhana | Arrow-Shaped Sea Serpent |
| St. Martin | Soualiga Oualichi | Land of Salt |
| St. Barths | Ouanalao | Unknown |
| Saba | Siba Amonhana | The Rock |
What is a sentence for Arawak?
1) Canoe is actually an Arawak word. 2) The Arawak Indians paddled out in dugout logs, which they called canoes, and offered gifts to the strangers. 3) The original inhabitants were Arawak native Americans who were gradually replaced by Caribs between 800 – 1000.