Mexican American Culture Essay

Improved Essays
The Indian tribes of the Caribbean, including the Arawaks and the Tainos, did not alter their lifestyles substantially before the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. Throughout their thriving years, the Arawaks and the Tainos practiced consistent religious beliefs and rituals. The Arawaks and the Tainos established specific communication styles, both within their civilizations and across seas. Lastly, the Arawaks and the Tainos initiated crucial transportation systems for their people. All in all, all three of these ideas were consistent, and never truly changed. Therefore, the Tainos and the Arawaks had an enduring history. The Arawak Indians had several religious beliefs and rituals that they kept with them throughout the years. For instance, their nature worship was in accordance with their ancestors from before them, making it everlasting and continuing (Glazier). These ritual continuities included convincing the walking ghost spirits of the night to join the living in celebration (Glazier). Overall, afterlife was extremely important with the Arawaks, and due to that they passed those beliefs down to the Caribs who came after them, and they were never changed or advanced (Glazier). As for the Tainos, they believed in godhood, meaning their divinity towards god. Additionally, the Tainos tested whether they people were mortal or immortal through a unique experiment (Mann, 157). In this experiment, the Tainos would forced other’s heads underwater for long period of time, to see if they could hold their breath for a substantial amount of time, like the gods did. Mostly, they tested the Spanish people of their region (Mann, 157). In general, these religious rituals and beliefs were a crucial and long term part of both the Taino and Arawak cultures and lasted until the Europeans arrived in 1492. The Arawaks practiced certain communication styles for their trading, and for social reasons. …show more content…
The first settlement group appeared in around 500 BCE, while the second group came along in about 300 BCE. However, although they were from different times, they still were from the same cultural group, including their communication styles (Crock). In organizational terms, they both arranged in the same way, always traveling from island to island in order to communicate with one another (Crock). The settlements used messengers and boats for their trading communication around the area. Overall, the two settlements communicated in similar ways, remaining a continuity. With the Taino tribe, they used overseas communication in order for their exotic trading to function properly, a little different then the Arawak Indians. The Tainos used maritime communication for their colonist trading of plant species, animals, and large rodents (Crock). For both the Arawaks and the Tainos, they both spoke the Arawakan language for as long as the world knows, proving it to be another constancy of their time. The Arawakan language was the largest family of languages spoken by the people of South America during the Early Ceramic Age in 200 BC (Crock). Once the Europeans showed up in 1492 the language went extinct, proving that the Europeans swept out all of their traditions and natural beliefs when they invaded their land. The Arawaks of the Caribbean used specific ways of transportation. Both tribes initiated crucial transportation systems for their people. Additionally both tribes were very

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Joshua Reid brings about the history of the People of the Cape, who came to be known as the Makah, through an aquatic voyage. The Makah’s culture and identities were shaped off of the reliance on the marine habitat. The indigenous people were located in the Northwest Coast where waters had abundant marine life and natural wealth, which attracted many Native and non-Native people. Reid explains the Makah’s troubles with the borderlands and their practices to control the seas and resources as the Europeans and Americans arrived. Chapter one explores the borderland and indigenous, marine characteristics.…

    • 221 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Within section 1 of chapter 3, I have chosen two people to compare and contrast. I chose Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortás because when they first discovered new land, they both acted the same way towards the natives. When Christopher Columbus sailed west in 1492, he sailed into the now known West Indies. When he arrived he met people, the Taínos, who he called indians.…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    No Name Nanapush Analysis

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Nanapush believes that his narration will bring mother and daughter together or realize the significance of the native culture and the threat of white culture over the native. He attemps to convince Lulu from marrying a Morrissey. Nanapush advices to prevent the marriage “Granddaughter, if you join this clan, I predict the union will not last. Listen to experience and marry wisely. I always did” (182).…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The pueblo Indians Pueblo Indians are a group of Native American. The word "pueblo" come from Latin language meaning "tribe". Also,the pueblo tribe are descended from the Anasazi people. They settled in Northern Arizona, and in New Mexico through 1540-1542 a.d. Today, twenty-one groups still exist, with all but two (the Hopi in Arizona and the Tigua in Texas) in northern New Mexico.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I am a part of the Colombian culture was born and live in Bogota, Colombia until I was fourteen years old. Bogota is the main capital of Colombia and the largest city in Colombia. Growing up in the culture I saw many aspects of economical and status differences. The city is mostly divided in economical class, meaning people who live in the south have less money and people who live in the north have grown into more of luxuries Colombia culture. In many other ways I felt other thing with it the culture was separated like the school system.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    New Mexico Essay

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Often, New Mexico is forgotten in the line up of states. It has been so neglected that some people believe that is does not even exist; however, if one was to take a glance at the government officials who are currently in office, they would be blown away at all the influential people they would find. Not only have several of New Mexico’s government officials made vast impacts in their own states, but they have also made impacts and advances all throughout countless different areas in their lives. Additionally, many of New Mexico’s government officials are the ones to thank for why New Mexico is this wonderful state it is today. Susana Martinez, a Republican, is the current governor of New Mexico; she was elected in 2010.…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Essay On Chicano Movement

    • 1357 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Chicano is a very common word in a Mexican American population dense area. Many say that the word Chicano is slang for Mexicano, and others say it’s a unique way to call those first-born Americans that come from Mexican parents. To historians and sociologists, the word “Chicano” was used for those who struggled between identifying themselves as Mexicans or as Americans. This word represents everything that we’ve overcome since WWII and before that. This word first came as a movement, The Chicano Movement, which fought for many of the same equal rights that African American’s were for.…

    • 1357 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mexican Racism Essay

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How can I say that Mexicans are not racist if my own family considers that a white with blue or green eyes is more beautiful than other who is not white? So, I agree that many Mexicans and also people from different ethnicity believe that the beauty comes depending on your eyes and skin color. I know that not all Mexicans are racist, that is a generalize comment, but it is very common to see white people in movies, novelas, announcements, and commercials. Even media plays an important role in people’s perspective about beauty, I think that concept goes so far than the media. It comes in how we as a parent always associate colors with the good and bad things.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    1. Introduction Many Latinos come to the United States everyday in hopes of starting a better life, but starting over is not an easy task. There are many challenges for Latinos that come with moving to the United States that Latinos born in the United States face as well. Some of the most glaring challenges are discrimination, immigration, and the language barrier. Hispanics are mainly discriminated against by race and wage.…

    • 1398 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Comparing Hispanic celebrations to how it we celebrate in America Hispanic Americans have roots in Europe, Africa, South and Central America. This means that there is a wide population of Hispanics. Today, the Hispanic or Latino population in the United States is estimated 54 million people (cdcc.gov, 2013). The Hispanics have different ways to celebrate than we (Americans) do differently. American and Hispanic cultures have different ways to celebrate.…

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Tiwanaku Research Paper

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages

    They had festivals, where different groups from the surrounding area would gather and bond socially; the harsher the conditions, the bigger the festival. They whole heartedly believed that worship and working together was the key to success. One of the things that really stood out to me was the monumental core Tiwanaku. I find that the people of Tiwanaku built very complex monuments, which were home to key religious icons and provided dynamic spaces for rituals and activities. These monuments also made visual references to mountain peaks, natural elements such as water, and told stories of the ancestors of the Tiwanaku…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Aruba Essay

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Their origin is from the Orinoco Basin in South America and they wandered down to threats from the unruly Carib. The existence of the Arawak tribes thousands of years ago can be found on some of the town forenames found around the Aruba island, such as Turibana, Guadirikiri, Camacuri, Andicuri and Bushiri. All these forenames are taken from the tribes’ chiefs and soldiers. Aside from that, they also left behind fragments of their culture like pottery, earthenware and other relics in different places on the island which can be perceived at the Archaeological Museum in Oranjestad or at the Historical Museums of Aruba at Fort…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Colombian Culture Essay

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Colombian Culture, and History The Army 's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Culture Center. defines culture as a “dynamic social system,” containing the values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms of a “specific group, organization, society or other collectivity" learned, shared, internalized, and changeable by all members of the society (Watson, 2010). Culture can be broken down into five basic areas, thank can be considered “operationally relevant.” These five areas are; the physical environment, the economy, the social structure, the political structure, and the belief system.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mexican Country Essay

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mexico, a country in the South America continent. In this modern world, it is considered a third world country but preferably it should be called a developing nation. This country is rich in tradition, culture, and also in its history. From all the countries in Latin America, it is the third largest country out there. Mexico is located in the border by the United States of America to the north and Belize Guatemala to the southeast.…

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While on his way to the Student Center in search of some food, Christian Martinez turns the corner and the collection of Latin American books sprawled across the colorful tablecloth featuring dancing skeletons catches his eye. He casually flips through some illustrations until he comes across a striking familiar one. " This picture reminds me of a story that my mother told me when I was younger," said Martinez.…

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays