Life in the Dominican Republic was a small ciboney(group of American Indian people)settlement that existed on the southwest shore of Haiti. The Arawak people, or the first group of people living there before Columbus came, dwelled there for quit some time.

There was an estimated 1-3million Arawak's living in the Dominican Republic at the time. They were split into five kingdoms ruled by strong-willed chiefs. The people there had over a 1,000 huts in each kingdom. On the northeastern coast, there were Indians living on the island. They spoke a different language, and painted their bodies with a black substance. Life was good, mainly because the Arawaks had complete control over the island known as Hispaniola.

The Arawaks farmed and planted what they needed. Some of the things they planted were corn, sweet potatoes, and manioc. Manioc was a substance used to make four for bread. Through their planting, they created a system of agricultural called conuco. Conuco are beds raised from the mounds in the earth. They planted all of their crops on these beds. The Arawaks also fished up until the time they were colonized by the Spanish.