by Andrew Rowen | Mar 17, 2019 | New York City
On this date 525 years ago, Columbus commenced construction of his first fort in Española’s interior, built to protect a garrison of men as they explored for gold and commenced subjugation of the Taíno population. He named it for the apostle who initially doubted...
by Andrew Rowen | Jan 6, 2019 | New York City
On this date 525 years ago, Columbus and those who sailed on his second voyage (an estimated 1,200–1,500 persons) celebrated their first mass at the settlement he established on “Española’s” central northern coast (in the modern Dominican Republic) and named La...
by Andrew Rowen | Oct 8, 2018 | New York City
Best wishes on Indigenous Peoples’ Day! I post to recount the Taínos’ belief about their origin. The fifteenth-century religion of many Taínos held that, in the beginning, mankind had lived in caves located at the center of the world in mountains in the island of the...
by Andrew Rowen | Jul 26, 2018 | New York City
Welcome to the updated website! I’m now researching Encounters Unforeseen’s sequel, which will chronicle the lives of the same Taíno and European protagonists from September 1493 to 1498, the period of the Taíno chieftains’ resistance to subjugation during and after...
by Andrew Rowen | | Sketches
Encounters Unforeseen’s protagonists are three historic Taíno chieftains—Caonabó, Guacanagarí, and Guarionex, Spain’s Queen Isabella, Columbus, and a Taíno captive Columbus seized. Portions of their life stories are sketched below. Caonabó Guacanagarí Guarionex...
