CSEC Revision #3 17-01-22 Theme One: Indigenous People and Europeans

Topic: Indigenous People and Europeans. 

Student Requirements 

Students should be able to:
1. describe the migratory and settlement patterns of the indigenous peoples in the Caribbean
up to the arrival of the Spanish in 1492;
2. describe the social, political and economic practices of the indigenous peoples in the
Americas up to 1492;
3. explain the relationship between the main art forms and the beliefs and technology of the
indigenous peoples;
4. explain the factors that led to Columbus’ voyages;
5. assess the impact of the Europeans on the indigenous peoples up to 1600; and,
6. assess the impact of the indigenous peoples on the Europeans up to 1600.

Specific Content

1. Migration and settlement patterns.
2. Taino, Kalinago and Maya practices:
(a) Interaction among social groupings of each people;
(b) Political systems and leadership roles; and,
(c) Economic patterns – levels of self-sufficiency, acquisition of surplus

3. (a) Indigenous art forms – architecture, music, painting, pottery, sculpture, dance.
(b) Indigenous beliefs and technology:
(i) Polytheism – types of gods/goddesses;
(ii) Animism;
(iii) Ancestral worship and sacrifice; and,
(iv) Scientific applications – mathematics, agriculture, astronomy.

4. Motivating factors that led to Columbus’ voyages – “Gold, God, Glory”.

5. Impact of the Europeans on the Indigenous peoples:
(a) Demographic changes;
(b) Colonisation;
(c) Cultural imposition; and,
(d) Economic destabilisation.

6. Impact of the Indigenous peoples on the Europeans:
(a) Introduction of crafts, agricultural products;
(b) Provision of labour; and,
(c) Diseases.