The Impact, Which the Spaniards Had On the Arawaks.

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THE IMPACT, WHICH THE SPANIARDS HAD ON THE ARAWAKS.

        

        The Spanish were the first Europeans that met the Arawaks. The Arawaks had many prophetic songs, which told of the coming of these strangers covered in clothing and armed with the thunders and lightnings of heaven. The actual meeting however was disguised with the friendliness that was promised to the Arawaks from the Spanish guides, and in return the Spaniards were treated with warmth, generosity, and honesty. In the relationship the Spanish were given an open invitation to the life and land of the Arawaks.

        The Spanish began to settle the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, but they soon began to abandon the work that was to be done. They instead forced the Arawaks to supply them with food and also began to assault their women. The Arawaks were a peaceful people, but they decided to resist and came together to fight the invaders who had made themselves unwelcome. Columbus immediately organised expeditions to overcome the Arawaks. The Arawaks were easily defeated and for them it was the end of the deception that the Spanish would trade fairly, and the beginning of the dreadful lifestyle that they would live.

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                The Arawaks were now forced to pay a tax, and the men were to deliver amounts of gold and cotton. If they failed they were forced to give several weeks’ free labour. If they refused to pay the tax they were captured and sent as slaves to Spain. The Arawaks who all so accustomed of working together for the good of the village were now forced to work and give their reaping to these invaders.

 During the warfare tens of thousands of Arawaks were killed, and that number would significantly increase in the future years.

In 1493, there had been ...

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