History of the South Atlantic World 1400-1700

Lancados

Lancados literally means “to throw”. This was meant that the Lancados were people who “threw” themselves to Africa and African culture. They were explorers or people trying to escape the Portuguese Inquisition. Many had African wives and were important to trade and the economy of Portugal.

El Mina

El Mina was an important port for trade, especially slave trade. It was part of the Gold Coast on the West Coast of Africa. The Portuguese would bring slaves here to go into the country side to mine gold. This resulted in a boom of gold, and reflected the increase in complexity of trade.

Tainos

The Tainos were the native inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the eastern part of Cuba. They were part of the second wave of immigration into the Caribbean, spreading ideas and bringing conflict to areas they settled. They were the most socially and culturally complex Amerindians in the Antilles. They were polytheists, believing in many gods.

Ciboneyes

The Ciboneyes were early inhabitants of the Antilles. They consisted mostly of hunters and gatherers who lived along the coast near cliffs, caves, and ravines. They lived mainly from fishing and collecting vegetables. The Tainos replaced most of the Ciboneyes during the second migration.

Repartimiento

Repartimiento was a forced labor system aimed at the natives of the Americas. The system called for the natives to work the land of the noble who owned it for a period of time. The Spanish were the ones that used this system in the New World. Repaertimiento is not out right slavery since the individuals have certain rights and work when they chose.

The Curse of Noah

The curse of Noah, or the curse of Ham, is found in Genesis Chapter 9. The story goes along the lines that Noah, after the flood, became drunk and was naked in his tent. Noah’s sons cover him without looking at his nakedness, but Ham sees Noah naked. God put a curse on Ham’s decedents, those of Canaan. This story has been used for centuries as a justification for slavery of Africans, seeing that their curse is God’s will for their enslavement.

In which ways was father Roy Bourgeois’s talk relevant to the topics addressed in class.

Father Roy’s talk is relevant in the topics addressed in class when one looks back at the colonization of the Americas by Europe and the stance of the Catholic Church. The United States and other Western powers still try to control or influence the South American world, just as they did when first colonizing. He sees the people as subjects of greater powers and not free.

Another relevance is the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church wants Father Roy silenced because of the fear of the knowledge of the history of the church. The church is at fault for allowing hideous crimes against the natives and slaves, and they do not want to face up their doings.