Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate - baixardoc

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate

CARIBBEAN HISTORY

SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT (S.B.A)

(YEAR 2016)

CANDIDATE NAME: ASHLEY HUTTON - LINDO

SCHOOL: Willowdene Group of Schools

CENTER #:100159

CANDIDATE #:1001590241

TEACHER: Ms. S. Mitchell

TERRITORY: JAMAICA

PROFICIENCY: GENERAL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

There are a number of individuals to whom the researcher would like to extend her

gratitude – either for their direct hand of assistance in completing this research, or for their

support.

First and foremost the researcher would like to thank God for His guidance as she sought

information for this research, and for the resources He made available for her to finish this

assignment. Secondly, she wants to express her gratitude to her History teacher, Miss Mitchell

who also guided her along whilst she did her research.

Finally, the researcher wants to thank her family for its support, especially her mother and

grandmother, who helped her to source information, as well as record sources to finalize this

research.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page Number

Focus Question..………………………………………………………………………… 1

Rationale ..........…………………………………………………………………………. 2

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………..…. 3

Economic Organization ………........…………………………………………………......4

Architecture........................................................................................................................ 5

Science and Technology..................................................................................................... 6

Socio-Political Organization (Governance) ...................................................................... 7

Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………… 8

Bibliography……………………………………………………………..………………. 9

Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………...10

Focus Question:

Theme: The Indigenous People and the Europeans

To what extent were the Maya more advanced than the Taino and the Kalinagos in the Pre-

Columbus era?

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Rationale

During the period before Columbus’ arrival, three significant groups of indigenous people

inhabited the Caribbean, namely, the Mayans, the Tainos and the Kalinagos. The Mayans were

considered advanced in the areas of Economic Organization, Architecture, Technology and

Science, and Socio-Political Organization (governance). However, the Tainos and the Kalinagos

were said to be simpler and their achievements had not been celebrated as those of the Mayans.

Based on this background, the researcher has decided to investigate the extent to which the

Mayans were more advanced than the Tainos and the Kalinagos. It is also intended to increase

the reader’s appreciation for the achievements of the indigenous people before the arrival of the

Europeans.

Introduction

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The Americas and the Caribbean were occupied before the arrival of Europeans. Among

the inhabitants were the Mayans, the Tainos and the Kalinagos. The Mayans occupied Central

America and they were the first Americans to develop a high level of culture, which gained

prominence since 250 AD. They practiced agriculture, built stone buildings, worked with

precious stones, and developed complex social and political organizations. Beckford &Shepherd

(2004) & Greenwood, R. (1991).

Centuries later the Tainos came from North, Central and South America to the Caribbean

through Orinoco,arriving first in the Lesser Antilles. They were, however, expelled by

Kalinagos, who followed the same route to the Caribbean. The Tainos continued to the Greater

Antilles where they settled. The Kalinagos occupied the Lesser Antilles but continued to be in

conflict with the Tainos throughout the Caribbean. (Beckles and Shepherd, 2004).

The Mayans being a settled people for a much longer period was the most advanced of

the three civilizations as seen through their economic, architecture and socio-political

organization, and also science and technology. Throughout this research paper, the author will

provide insights on how the Mayans were more advanced than the Tainos and Kalinagos by

comparing their economic and socio-political organizations, and also science and technology.

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Economic Organization

Agriculture was very important to the economy of all three groups of indigenous people.

The Mayans practiced surplus farming which provided more than enough for their people and

still had more to trade for other goods. They cultivated a number of crops with maize being

dominant (Beckles &Shepherd, 2004). They also hunted and practiced animal husbandry to

enrich their diet (see Table 1). They mined for mineral deposits which were used in construction

and crafts. Among the items mined were obsidian, jade, gold and flint stone (Honychurch, 1979)

The Mayans had a huge market economy. The surplus from crops, and a wide range of

goods provided opportunity for trading between Mayan’s states and other countries (Grandreams,

2004). In similar fashion, the Tainos and Kalinagos economies were dependent on agriculture,

hunting and fishing. They, however, were subsistent farmers; that is, producing sufficient just for

their immediate use. (Baldeosingh & Mahase, 2011). The dominant crop was cassava which was

used in their diet in a variety of ways. Hunting and fishing supplied protein for the diet of the

Caribbean Amerindians (Beckles and Shepherd, 2004). Some Taino groups traded on a small

scale, with each other and people on the mainland in cotton, textiles, tools, weapons, tobacco and

foodstuff.

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Architecture

Regarding the Mayan’s architecture, it was very advanced. The nobles’ palaces, the

temples and pyramids were built with distinct architectural styles. The temples and pyramids

were made of cut stones, limestone blocks, rubbles and cement, and they were usually decorated

with complex carvings and strengthened by corbel vault and arches with sides that extend and

meet at the top (Baldeosingh & Mahase, 2011). In contrast, the architectures of the Tainos and

Kalinagos, were represented only by their houses which were similarly constructed. They were

made of wooden posts for the upright, thatched roofs, earthen floor and plaited reeds for the

walls and differentiated by their shapes. For the Tainos, the commoner’s house were round, the

chiefs’ rectangular and oblong for the Kalinagos (Claypole & Robottom 2011).

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Science and Technology

The Mayans developed systems of mathematics, astronomy and writing. Their

mathematics were said to be sophisticated as they used the concept of zero and place value. They

invented calendars which were described as being more appropriate than those found in western

civilization. They could record anniversaries of disasters and predict when they could happen

again. Claypole & Robottom, (2001) & Honychurch, L. (1979).

In astronomy, the Mayans accurately calculated the solar year. They wrote in symbols called

glyphs which appeared on their monuments. They also wrote on paper and produced books.

Baldeosingh & Mahase ( 2011). Neither the Tainos nor the Kalinagos, however, were skilled in

these disciplines. They were oral cultures who recorded and taught their history through story-

telling, singing and dancing. Honychurch (1979), and they could not count beyond the number

three. Claypole, & Robottom (2001)

(Socio-political Organization (Governance)

According to Beckles and Shepherd (2004), the Mayan society was rigidly divided

between nobles, commoners and slaves. Nobles’ status and occupations were hereditary; that is,

from father to son. The nobles served in positions such as rulers, bureaucrats, but the whole

social system rested on the commoners and slaves. The political system was sophisticated,

complex and reminiscent of modern state bureaucracy. Each city-state was governed by a king

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who was the supreme ruler. He had a council who advised him and he was responsible for the

daily political management of the state.

The city-state was divided into towns and villages and was governed by officials

appointed by the king. They were supported by advisers and staff including peace keepers or

police. There was also a large army which supported the political management and defended the

state. The leaders were from the nobility but the rank and file was conscripted from the

peasantry. There were priests whose duties included determining the dates for festivals and

ceremonies and to predict auspicious events. The political order was devised as a system of

control. This included methods of getting revenue for the government and ways of maintaining

respect for laws and decisions and for the regulation of trade. Beckles & Shepherd (2004)

The Taino society, like the Mayans, was divided into classes of nobles, commoners and

slaves. The chief, called cacique and his family were regarded as the upper class. The position of

cacique was passed from father to son.

However, the Taino’s political organization was simple and undeveloped in contrast to the

Mayan’s. The government was limited to the cacique, and sub-chiefs who supervised the

districts and act as council to the cacique when he was negotiating a new treaty. In addition, the

political power of the cacique was different from that of the Mayan king in that, the cacique,

according to Beckles and Shepherd (2004) was more like a community leader who had

considerable social status and cultural authority but limited political power and no military

leadership. Some of the duties reflecting the cacique’s authority, included: organizing the

production of food for the people, negotiating peace within and between villages and presiding

over ceremonial activities.

Baldeosingh & Mahase (2011) stated that the Kalinago society was the least

hierarchical. Everyone enjoyed the same status. The Kalinagos governed by a chief called the

Obutu, and he was chosen based on his military prowess (Honychurch, 1979). Unlike the Mayan

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