Overview
Pre- Colonial Philippines
Overview
The pre-colonial Philippines was a diverse, complex, rich, and prosperous society that existed before the Spanish colonization in the 16th century. It had various cultures, languages, religions, and political systems, as well as abundant natural resources, extensive trade networks, and advanced technologies. It also had a classless, warrior, petty plutocratic, or principality society, depending on the region, with women enjoying equal status with men. It had a rich and diverse culture, with various forms of art, literature, music, dance, and architecture, as well as a complex and syncretic religion, with elements of animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
Overview
Overview
Overview
Pre- Colonial
Philippines
- The pre-colonial period in the Philippines refers to the time before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.
- It was a diverse and complex society, with various cultures, languages, religions, and political systems.
- It was also a rich and prosperous society, with abundant natural resources, extensive trade networks, and advanced technologies.
Societal Categories
- Pre-colonial society can be classified into four categories: classless societies, warrior societies, petty plutocrats, and principalities.
- Classless societies had no terms to distinguish social classes, and everyone had equal access to resources and opportunities.
- Warrior societies had a recognized class of warriors who were distinguished by their prowess in battle and their tattoos.
- Petty plutocrats had a recognized class of wealthy landowners who inherited real property and exercised local authority.
- Principalities had a recognized ruling class with inherited rights to assume political office or exercise central authority.
- Women enjoyed equal status with men in pre-colonial society. They were allowed to divorce, own and inherit property, and even lead their respective barangays or territories.
- They were also the working heads of the family, possessing the power of the purse and the sole right to name their children.
- They could dictate the terms of their marriage and even retain their maiden names if they chose to do so.
- They also played important roles in politics and religion, as they headed the rituals as the babaylans or priestesses.
Women’s Status
Trade and Economy
- Pre-colonial society was self-sufficient, producing enough food, clothing, and shelter for its needs. It also engaged in domestic and foreign trade, exchanging goods and services with other barangays and other civilizations.
- The main products of pre-colonial society were rice, fish, salt, sugar, cotton, hemp, pottery, metalwork, jewelry, and weapons. The main imports were silk, porcelain, spices, beads, and books.
- Pre-colonial society had a rich and diverse culture, with various forms of art, literature, music, dance, and architecture. It also had a complex and syncretic religion, with elements of animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
- The art of pre-colonial society included weaving, carving, painting, tattooing, and goldsmithing. The literature of pre-colonial society included epics, legends, folktales, riddles, and proverbs. The music and dance of pre-colonial society included gongs, drums, flutes, harps, chants, and rituals.
Religion
Culture
The pre-colonial period in the Philippines is a fascinating era of our history. It was a time when our ancestors lived in a veritable paradise, and although it wasn’t perfect, that era was the closest thing we ever had to a Golden Age.