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200
Ceramics
The development of ceramics in Suriname went hand in hand with the beginning of rudimentary agriculture. Hunting of big animals had decreased so groups turn to slash and burn farming. In order to store food they started making ceramics. In slash and burn farming, trees are %u201Cslashed%u201D or cut down and then fields burned to create a suitable environment for planting. The cassava was the primary product; it was ground into flour. -
200
Canoe
Caribs were the first group to create canoes. The canoe, hollowed out of trees yet light enough to carry around rapids, enabled communication among settlements, improved fishing and hunting possibilities and gave the Caribs an advantage over other groups. They also caused a lot more conflict over fishing and hunting grounds that were now accessible. -
Jan 1, 1000
Changes in civilization
Groups were congregating, creating communities and tribes. Leaders and elders were now beginning to be important and common and had more elaborate burial rights. Men and women were assigned specific jobs within the community. Women did most of the farming while men did the hunting and fighting. Farming tools were developed and tool workshops were built. Rituals and traditions for initiations were created including the stinging vest. -
The big trade
In 1498 the first Europeans landed in Suriname . They didn%u2019t pay it much attention, but the English did and so did the Dutch. In 1651 English founded a colony by settlers from Barbados. In 1667, the Dutch and English made a trade. The Dutch gave England New York and England gave the Dutch Suriname. -
Maroons win their freedom
Maroons are the 25% of slaves to the Dutch colonizers who escaped. For 100 years they raided plantations, taking guns and helping others escape. Finally there was a peace treaty recognizing their independence if they would stop raiding the plantations and not negotiate with tribes. The rest of the slaves were emancipated in 1863. Plantation owners started using indentured workers from India, Indonesia, and China. -
Suriname's independence
Independence was a huge breakthrough for Suriname. It was granted by the Netherlands on November 26, 1975. Their first president was John Ferrier and the prime minister was Henke Arron. On February 25, 1980 there was a military coup led by Desi Bouterse. Elections in 1987 let Bouterse remain leader of the army but after the 1991 elections his power started to decrease and then a civil war between the army and Maroons weakened his position even more. The next upcoming elections are in 2010. -
The identity of suriname
Freedom of religion is a big part of Suriname%u2019s identity. Many of the world%u2019s religions flourish side by side. It is one of the only places in the world that has a Jewish synagogue right next to a Muslim mosque that share a parking lot. The religions in Suriname include: Catholicism, Moravianism, Hinduism, Islamism, Judaism, Amerindian spiritualism and African tribal rituals. The biggest threat to these religious traditions is the building of roads and bridges, threatening parental control. -
Food supply increase
The population increased from Ancient Times and so did the need for more food. Slash and burn farming was very destructive to the environment. The soil became depleted after about 5 years so groups had to move on and find new land to use. Some settlements experimented with permanent farming and built mounds to raise up the planting beds so they could preserve their crops during wet season. The drawing shows a mound in West Suriname that keeps the plants away from salt water.
