Myths and realities of Caribbean history / Basil A. Reid.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Reid, Basil A., 1961-

Series:

Caribbean archaeology and ethnohistory.

Caribbean archaeology and ethnohistory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Caribbean Area--History--Errors, inventions, etc.

Caribbean Area.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (170 p.)

Place of Publication:

Tuscaloosa : University of Alabama Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book seeks to debunk eleven popular and prevalent myths about Caribbean history. Using archaeological evidence, it corrects many previous misconceptions promulgated by history books and oral tradition as they specifically relate to the pre-Colonial and European-contact periods. It informs popular audiences, as well as scholars, about the current state of archaeological/historical research in the Caribbean Basin and asserts the value of that research in fostering a better understanding of the region's past. Contrary to popular belief, the history of the C

Contents:

Myth 1. Caribbean history started with the arrival of Christoper Columbus in 1492

Myth 2. The Arawaks and Caribs were the two major groups in the precolonial Caribbean

Myth 3. Columbus met Arawaks in the northern Caribbean

Myth 4. The natives encountered by Christopher Columbus in the northern Caribbean migrated from South America

Myth 5. The Arawaks were the first potters and farmers to have settled in the Caribbean

Myth 6. The Ciboneys lived in western Cuba at the time of Spanish contact

Myth 7. The Island-Caribs were cannnibals

Myth 8. All the Amerindians migrating from South America to the Caribbean island-hopped from the continent to the Lesser and Greater Antilles

Myth 9. The Spanish introduced syphilis into the Caribbean and the new world

Myth 10. Christopher Columbus wrote the version of his "Diario" (diary) that we use today

Myth 11. The Spanish colonists brought "civilization" to native societies in the Caribbean.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [137]-150) and index.

ISBN:

0-8173-8316-6

OCLC:

647930660