Tainos y Caribes: Las culturas aborigenes antillanas

by Sebastián Robiou Lamarche

Writen for both the general public and the specialist, Tainos and Caribs, Antillean aboriginal cultures summarize the Spanish and French historians' descriptions on the ancient inhabitants of the Antilles, as well as the latest historical, anthropological, linguistic, archaeological and even genetic research. The goal is also to offer the reader a summary of the experiences lived by the Antillean aboriginal cultures before, during and after the European discovery. In other words, present concisely the origins, heyday, decline and legacy of the Tainos and Caribs. The book is based on some 400 books and scholarly articles written from the fifteenth century until today, making the bibliography of great value for anyone wishing to know the original sources. The book is in Spanish, originally published in 2003. It is required reading for scholars, teachers, students and the general public interested in the indigenous societies of the Caribbean.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Anthropology

300 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2003

Reviews

[Téyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

La lecture était pas toujours évidente, et c’était parfois très intense (notamment les chapitres sur la quasi extinction des peuples aborigènes), mais c’était extrêmement intéressant. C’était fascinant de découvrir les premières cultures Caribéennes et de voir quelles traces elles ont laissé dans le monde d’aujourd’hui.

[Fran Zabaleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estupendo. Claro y completo, permite formarse una buena idea sobre la forma de vida y las creencias de los pueblos que vivían en el Caribe antes de la conquista española. Fundamental como documentación.

[Eneas Núñez]

El autor repite muchos los datos y hace introducciones a temas de una manera que se siente anticuada. Sin embargo todo está bien explicado, muchos elementos descritos de una manera poética que ayuda al entendimiento de culturas y creencias tan distintas a las nuestras. Buena adición a cualquier colección sobre culturas aborígenes.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and thorough. A very good summary of the research that has been done so far into indigenous Antillean culture, including the author's own academic research. For topics where researchers had to rely on a certain amount of conjecture based on a limited archeological or ethnographic record, this book doesn't just pick a pet theory, but presents the various alternative theories from different primary sources and prominent researchers. It helps you understand not just what we know, but how sure we are that we know it in the first place. A very refreshing contrast to many other nonfiction books with their tendency to try to manufacture academic consensus or certainty where none exists.

At the same time, the writing style is not at all "academic"--it's very accessible, clear, concise, and engaging. The book is also full of very helpful illustrations, from diagrams to pictures of utilitarian objects and art, to 17th century European renditions of what they encountered, to contemporary Antillean artists' work inspired by Taino art and mythology. Especially helpful are the star charts and diagrams. The Tainos and Caribs were expert star navigators, but I have never even seen the Milky Way. My understanding of their culture would have definitely been nonexistent without the numerous star charts.

Two minor quibbles with this edition: 1. the translation, while mostly excellent, can be a little rough occasionally, with some of the English words being used very oddly; 2. There is no index. This can be partially replaced by doing a text search in the electronic version, but not completely.

[Juliette Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 | I picked up this book with great interest in learning about the Indigenous people of Haiti, of which I’m a descendent. In this book, Lamarche did a great job, not only speaking on the Taino people of Haiti, but also highlighting their influence across other islands in addition to the Caribs in the Antilles.

Lamarche takes on a scholarly approach, presenting significant evidence on the history of the Tainos and Caribs as well as their art, agriculture, value systems, and beliefs, which inform a lot of what we understand as present day cultures in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Dominica, St. Vincent, Jamaica, and other islands.

I did very much appreciate the focus on the Indigenous people and less on the colonizers, as it helped to humanize, validate, and honor who they were and their influence on many Caribbean cultures to date.

[Susan Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ironically, it was more about Columbus than the Indigenous people of the Caribbean islands. I was disappointed.