Dominican Republic History: From Tainos to Independence
Dominican Republic History: An Overview
Social Science encompasses the scientific disciplines that study social and individual human behavior. Key social sciences include economics, law, anthropology, history, and demography.
Historical Periods
- Pre-Columbian Era (up to 1492): Before the arrival of Europeans.
- Discovery and Conquest (1492-1502): The Taino people were exploited for their land.
- Colonial Era (1502-1844): The island was divided into two colonies.
- Republican Era (1844-Present): The creation of the Dominican Republic.
The Taino People
The indigenous group inhabiting the island were the Taino, part of the Arawak peoples who migrated from the Orinoco River in Venezuela.
Taino Society
- Engaged in agriculture, cultivating cassava, corn, and other crops.
- Organized into chiefdoms (cacicazgos) comprising distinct social classes:
- Cacique (Chief)
- Nitainos (Nobles)
- Behique (Shaman)
- Naborias (Commoners)
Taino Beliefs
The Taino were polytheistic, believing in many gods. They revered cassava and other deities like Yucahu. The Cohoba ceremony was a central religious rite.
European Arrival and Colonization
Christopher Columbus sailed from Palos on August 3, 1492, and landed in Haiti on December 5. Initial interactions were peaceful but soon deteriorated.
- In 1493, Columbus named the island La Española.
- The Spanish, though fewer in number, possessed advantages: horses and firearms.
Nicolás de Ovando’s Governorship (1502)
Nicolás de Ovando’s administration implemented several measures:
- Waging war against the indigenous population.
- Establishing the encomienda system.
- The Casa de Contratación controlled trade to and from the Americas.
- The Council of the Indies (Consejo de Indias) handled legislative affairs related to the colonies (established in 1524).
- The Real Audiencia managed the economy and tax collection (established in 1511).
The Encomienda System
The encomienda system granted Spanish colonists control over groups of Taino people, who were forced to provide labor and were supposedly taught Spanish traditions. This system, along with diseases, led to the decimation of the Taino population.
- Sugarcane was introduced in 1493.
- Cimarrones (Maroons) were Taino people who escaped slavery and formed independent villages called manieles.
Economic Activities
Mining (1492-1520)
- Product: Gold
- System of Labor: Forced Labor, Slavery
- Manpower: Taino
- Based on: Parcels of land
- Form of Resistance: Suicide
- Reason for End: Depletion of gold and decline of the Taino population.
Agriculture (1520 – 16th Century)
- Product: Sugarcane
- System of Labor: Slavery
- Manpower: Enslaved Africans
- Based on: Labor-intensive requirements
- Form of Resistance: Maroonage
Cattle Ranching (1600-1800)
- Products: Cattle, sheep, horses
- System of Labor: Semi-slavery
- Labor: Mulatto
- Based on: Less intensive labor
- Form of Resistance: Limited
- End: The hato (ranch) system
Treaty of Tordesillas and Monopoly
- The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal.
- Spain enforced a trade monopoly in its American colonies, restricting trade with other nations.
- A notable attack occurred in 1586 by Francis Drake (El Draque), lasting one month.
Contraband and Devastations
Contraband trade flourished in the northern region of the island, with ships from France and the Netherlands engaging in illicit commerce. This became so widespread that Spanish authorities decided to devastate the western part of the island.
The Devastations involved forcibly relocating the population in the north and destroying cities, leading to an economic crisis. The Situado, annual funds from Mexico, were used for military purposes. Foreigners exploited the devastated areas, and smuggling re-emerged in 1606.