Amerindian History Essay

The history of Trinidad begins with the settlement of the island by Amerindians. This dates back to at least 7000 years at Banwari Trace which is the oldest discovered human settlement in Eastern Caribbean. The Amerindian tribes were referred to by various names, example: Yaio, Garini, Nepuyo, Warac and many others. They were described as a peaceful people. The closest approximation to formal education was father’s instructions to boys in the use of tools, weapons, the lore, rites and religion of the group. These religions were particularly formalized by caciques or chief with respect to their sons. They were actively engaged in hunting, gathering fruits and shell fish as a means of survival. Their main staple was cassava. They traded with their neighbours on the mainland although they did not have a money economy. Christopher Columbus, before his third voyage had promised the queen of Spain, Queen Isabella that the first land he came upon would be named after the Holy Trinity. It was considered a miracle when the first land he sighted was the three peaks of the Trinity Hills. They anchored the next morning (1st August 1498) at Point Erin. On the second they sailed to Icacos Point and Anchored in the Gulf or Paria. After exploring the Gulf they anchored on the 12th August 1498 at Monkey Harbour on Charcachacare Island. On the 13th August 1498, they sailed through the Grand Boca and claimed the island of Trinidad and Tobago for Spain. Trinidad and Tobago was reported to be densely populated at the start of the colonial period. Although in 1510, Trinidad was said to have peaceful Indians along the whole South America Coast, the demand for slaves to supply the pearl fisheries in nearby Isla Margarita led to them being declared â€Å"Caribs† (thus, fair game for slaves) in 1511. As a consequence, Trinidad became the focus of the Spanish slaving raids. Under a system employed by the Spanish Crown (Encomienda System), a person was granted a specific number of natives for whom they were to take responsibility. The receivers if this grant were to protect the natives from warring tribes and to instruct them in the Spanish language and in the Catholic faith. In return, they could extract tribute from the natives in the form of labour, gold, or other products. Failure to comply with this usually led to extreme punishment and death. The Amerindians were against this encomienda system which was basically a form of slavery and they were also against conversion to Christianity. Their way of life as they knew it was no longer, in that, they would now have to follow the Spanish culture, example, learn and speak the Spanish language, attires would be that of the Spanish influence, they now planted cocoa instead of cassava, and they would now have to follow Christian faith. Under this system many Amerindians were wiped out. Spanish missions were established as part of the Spanish colonization here as in its other New World conquest. In 1687 the Catalan Capuchin frairs were given the responsibility for the conversion of the indigenous population of Trinidad and Tobago and the Guianas. In 1713, the missions were handed over to the secular clergy. Due to shortage of missionaries, although missions were established they often went without Christian instructions for long periods of time. Between 1687 and 1700 several missions were founded in Trinidad but only four survived as Amerindian villages throughout the eighteenth century. 1. La Anuncita de Savana Grande (Princes Town) 2. Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima de Guayri (San Fernando) 3. Santa Ana de Savaneta (Savonetta) 4. Santa Rosa de Arima (Arima) The mission of Santa Rosa de Arima was established in 1789 when Amerindians from the former encomiendas of Tacarigua and Arauca(Arouca) were relocated further west. On December 1st 1699 the Arena Massacre (also known as the Arena Uprising) took place. This was as a result of the tension between priests and Amerindians. Amerindian in an attempt to regain their freedom murdered many priest. After being hunted by the Spanish, some of the survivors (Amerindians) were reported to have committed suicide by jumping off cliffs into the sea, however some were captured. Although the Spanish settlement began in the 16th century, the population in 1783 was less than three thousand, the Majority being Amerindians. In 1783 the proclamation of the Cedula of Population (a law passes by the Spanish Crown) granted 32 acres of land to each Roman Catholic who settled in Trinidad and half as much for each slave that they brought. Under this law, incentives such as free land, and exemption from paying most taxes, were granted. Because of the Hatian Revolution, many people from the French islands saw this as incentive and migrated to Trinidad along with their culture and slaves. The French at this time would have planted Sugar Cane for the purpose of Trade which would have in turn improved the economy of Trinidad. A census in 1777 showed 2763 people, by the time 1797 the population 17,643, by 1960 the population was 827,957, by this time the population contained no Amerindians.