Culture of Puerto Rico

At the time Juan Ponce de León took possession of the Island, there were about twenty Taino villages, called yucayeque.

At their arrival the Spaniards expected the Taíno Indians to acknowledge the sovereignty of the king of Spain by payment of gold tribute, to work and supply provisions of food and to observe Christian ways.

As a result, Taíno culture, language, and traditions were generally decimated, and vanished 20 years after Christopher Columbus arrived.

Many Taíno implements and techniques were copied directly by the Europeans, including the bohio (straw hut) and the hamaca (hammock), the musical instrument known as the maracas, and the method of making cassava bread.

Names of plants, trees and fruits includes: maní, leren, ají, yuca, mamey, pajuil, pitajaya, cupey, tabonuco and ceiba.

Names of fish, animals and birds include: mucaro, guaraguao, iguana, cobo, carey, jicotea, guabina, manati, buruquena and juey.

As well as other objects and instruments: güiro, bohío, batey, caney, hamaca, nasa, petate, coy, barbacoa, batea, cabuya, casabe and canoa.

As far back as the 16th century, the Spanish built a series of massive defense structures to protect Old San Juan and its bay from other invaders.

[9] With the introduction of slavery to the colony, the island experienced an influx of Africans who brought with them the cultural influences of their own tribes.

More subtle ties also exist, such as those that connect Puerto Rico's literary history with the rich African tradition of oral storytelling.

The shared African heritage of many Caribbean nations is reflected in cultural pursuits like dance, as well as in local culinary styles.

Eventually reggaeton, a Puerto Rican break-off of original Spanish reggae, became very popular throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, the US and Spain.

In the filmmaking community, co-productions between Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries have created an exchange of ideas and influenced their film conventions.