The Dominican Republic- Culture and History

The Dominican Republic Country that is eastern two-thirds of island Hispaniola Country that is eastern two-thirds of island Hispaniola Hispaniola’s western side is Haiti Hispaniola’s western side is Haiti In West Indies island group In West Indies island group 575 miles southeast of Miami, Florida 575 miles southeast of Miami, Florida Has fertile valleys, forest- covered mountains Has fertile valleys, forest- covered mountains

The Dominican Republic cont. Dominican Republic has been ruled by dictators and other countries for most of history Dominican Republic has been ruled by dictators and other countries for most of history – U.S. troops came twice to Dominican Republic to stop fighting between political groups Nowadays, president is head of Dominican Republic Nowadays, president is head of Dominican Republic – Have Cabinet appointed by president, elected legislature President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Hipolito Mejia Domínguez

Capital – Santo Domingo

Formerly Ciudad Trujillo Formerly Ciudad Trujillo Capital and major seaport of Dominican Republic Capital and major seaport of Dominican Republic Commercial and manufacturing center Commercial and manufacturing center – Has sugar and fruit processing, distilling, and tanning industries

Capital – Santo Domingo, cont. Popular resort area Popular resort area – Has close beaches and nice climate Population of 2,766,000 Population of 2,766,000 Largest city in Dominican Republic Largest city in Dominican Republic Is national district, not province Is national district, not province

Historical Landmarks of Santo Domingo Basilica Santa Maria la Menor Basilica Santa Maria la Menor – From 16 th century, includes tomb of Christopher Colombus Alcazar de Colon Alcazar de Colon – Palace created by Diego, Colombus’s son – Built in 1510 – restored in 1957 Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo – Oldest university in Western Hemisphere – 1538 Made UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 Made UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 Alcazar de Colon

History of Santo Domingo Founded in 1496 by Bartholomew, Christopher Columbus’s brother Founded in 1496 by Bartholomew, Christopher Columbus’s brother First city in Western Hemisphere founded by Europeans that’s still lived in today First city in Western Hemisphere founded by Europeans that’s still lived in today Occupied by U.S. Marines from 1916 to 1924, again in 1965 Occupied by U.S. Marines from 1916 to 1924, again in and 1979 – hurricanes greatly damaged city 1930 and 1979 – hurricanes greatly damaged city

Cursed??? Anyone who says Columbus’s name will be cursed Anyone who says Columbus’s name will be cursed Three planes bearing names of Columbus’s ships crashed Three planes bearing names of Columbus’s ships crashed Earthquake when his urn opened Earthquake when his urn opened Leader got infection and died when pricked with pin of Order of Columbus medal Leader got infection and died when pricked with pin of Order of Columbus medal Pirates and many uprisings have, over the years, overwhelmed Santo Domingo Pirates and many uprisings have, over the years, overwhelmed Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic Tourism

Tourism Offers fine: Offers fine: – Beaches – Mountains – Historical Sites – Nice hotels

History of Tourism Until 1967, there was no organized tourist industry Until 1967, there was no organized tourist industry 1967 only 182,036 visitors 1967 only 182,036 visitors By 2003, there were 3,268,182 tourists By 2003, there were 3,268,182 tourists Has become as economically important as agriculture Has become as economically important as agriculture

Dominican Republic Food

Food Most of diet contains starchy proteins: Most of diet contains starchy proteins: – Rice – Beans – Tubers – Pigeon peas (guandules) – Plantains (similar to bananas with thicker skins) Need to be cooked Need to be cooked Known as comida criolla, or creole food Known as comida criolla, or creole food Mainly includes rice, various beans, a small amount of pork, beef, or goat, and plantains Mainly includes rice, various beans, a small amount of pork, beef, or goat, and plantains Cod, shellfish, lobster, shark, tuna, and salmon are the major sea foods Cod, shellfish, lobster, shark, tuna, and salmon are the major sea foods

Beverages Beverages normally are various fruit juices, coffee at least three times a day and a couple of alcoholic beverages at night or on weekends Beverages normally are various fruit juices, coffee at least three times a day and a couple of alcoholic beverages at night or on weekends Mangoes

Meals El desayuno (breakfast) El desayuno (breakfast) – Boiled roots/plantains, which fill the stomach El almuerzo (lunch) El almuerzo (lunch) – Rice and beans are always eaten during lunch, the most considerable meal of the day. A siesta normally occurs afterward Dinner Dinner – Consists of boiled roots, eggs, mashed potatoes, bread, spaghetti, and sometimes a plantain dish called mangu – Desserts are sweet, generally made from plantains, tubers, and beans, though other dessert foods exist Sancocho Mangu

Marketplaces Original open-air markets. Many like to bargain at these. Original open-air markets. Many like to bargain at these. Colmados, small markets that sell main necessities at set prices. Colmados, small markets that sell main necessities at set prices. Modern supermarkets. Only in urban areas. Modern supermarkets. Only in urban areas.

Agriculture At first, was the backbone of the Dominican Republic economy; now it is only 10.7% of gross domestic product At first, was the backbone of the Dominican Republic economy; now it is only 10.7% of gross domestic product 17% of Dominican Republic workers have professions in agriculture 17% of Dominican Republic workers have professions in agriculture Some cash crops today are coffee, cocoa, and tobacco Some cash crops today are coffee, cocoa, and tobacco Sugar is its “largest agricultural export” Sugar is its “largest agricultural export” – Dominican Republic 10 th largest sugar producer in the world – Some of Dominican Republic’s sugar workers include people from Haiti. “Dominicans shun the menial labor of cutting sugarcane.” Cocoa

Agriculture cont. The Government is working to build “quality” and popularity of Dominican coffee throughout the world The Government is working to build “quality” and popularity of Dominican coffee throughout the world In the 1960s, tobacco, which was first grown by Taino Indians, grew to a high level in the Dominican Republic In the 1960s, tobacco, which was first grown by Taino Indians, grew to a high level in the Dominican Republic – In 1978, became highly important export – Declined in 1980s Black tobacco, used for cigars, is 88% of tobacco production Black tobacco, used for cigars, is 88% of tobacco production – Dominican Republic is “world’s largest cigar exporter” Coffee

Nontraditional Crops Since traditional crops declined in the 1980s, nontraditional crops came to a higher standpoint Since traditional crops declined in the 1980s, nontraditional crops came to a higher standpoint – Vegetables not grown in the U.S. in winter, citrus and tropical fruits, spices, and nuts, and produce popular among Hispanics in the U.S.

Major Food Crops and Livestock Major food crops include: rice, sorghum, plantains, beans, tubers, fruit, vegetables, spices, and nuts Major food crops include: rice, sorghum, plantains, beans, tubers, fruit, vegetables, spices, and nuts Cattle ranching is still significant from the 1800s Cattle ranching is still significant from the 1800s Hide and salted beef are exported Hide and salted beef are exported Cattle in the Dominican Republic

Arawak/Taino Indians

They were peaceful people, surrounded with happiness and friendliness They were peaceful people, surrounded with happiness and friendliness Complete genocide wiped them out and as far as my sources indicate, this was the only completed genocide in the history of the world Complete genocide wiped them out and as far as my sources indicate, this was the only completed genocide in the history of the world

Daily Life of Arawak/Taino Indians The main population lived in circular buildings that used poles for main support The main population lived in circular buildings that used poles for main support They ate generally small mammals, like rodents, bats, and worms, and grew corn, squash, beans, peppers, and sweet potatoes They ate generally small mammals, like rodents, bats, and worms, and grew corn, squash, beans, peppers, and sweet potatoes

Taino Indians Wiped Out The only thing that dangered them before Columbus’s landing in 1492 were the Caribs, war like cannibals that lived in the North of the Dominican Republic The only thing that dangered them before Columbus’s landing in 1492 were the Caribs, war like cannibals that lived in the North of the Dominican Republic They would kill off the men, fatten the children up to eat, and use the woman for breeding purposes They would kill off the men, fatten the children up to eat, and use the woman for breeding purposes Small Zemi (God) carved out of stone

Quiz! 1.) What is the capital of the Dominican Republic? 1.) What is the capital of the Dominican Republic? 2.) Name one historical landmark in the Dominican Republic’s capital. 2.) Name one historical landmark in the Dominican Republic’s capital. 3.) By 2003, how many tourists were visiting the Dominican Republic per year? 3.) By 2003, how many tourists were visiting the Dominican Republic per year? 4.) Tourism is as economically as important as _______. (Fill in the blank.) 4.) Tourism is as economically as important as _______. (Fill in the blank.) 5.) What is breakfast called in the Dominican Republic, and name one thing it may consist of 5.) What is breakfast called in the Dominican Republic, and name one thing it may consist of 6.) Name at least one of the Dominican Republic’s cash crops. 6.) Name at least one of the Dominican Republic’s cash crops. 7.) Name at least two foods that were part of the Arawak/Taino Indians’ diets. 7.) Name at least two foods that were part of the Arawak/Taino Indians’ diets. 8.) What wiped out the Taino Indians? 8.) What wiped out the Taino Indians?

Check Your Answers 1.) Santo Domingo 1.) Santo Domingo 2.) You could have any of the following: Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, Alcazar de Colon, and/or Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo 2.) You could have any of the following: Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, Alcazar de Colon, and/or Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo 3.) 3,268,182 tourists 3.) 3,268,182 tourists 4.) Agriculture 4.) Agriculture 5.) El desayuno (breakfast); consists of boiled roots/plantains 5.) El desayuno (breakfast); consists of boiled roots/plantains 6.) You could have any of the following: coffee, cocoa, and/or tobacco 6.) You could have any of the following: coffee, cocoa, and/or tobacco 7.) “Complete” genocide 7.) “Complete” genocide 8.) You could have any of the following: small mammals, like rodents, bats, and worms, corn, squash, beans, peppers, and/or sweet potatoes. 8.) You could have any of the following: small mammals, like rodents, bats, and worms, corn, squash, beans, peppers, and/or sweet potatoes.