c.

c. AD 1492 – 1600: The early colonial Caribbean is increasingly studied as a “stage of encounters,” where migration, mobility, and interaction reshaped the social landscape of the islands. Research by Hofman, Mol, Hoogland, and Valcárcel Rojas emphasizes that indigenous groups remained active participants in regional networks long after the initial Spanish arrival. By examining the continued movement of materials and people, scholars can trace the complex processes of transculturation and resistance that occurred during the first century of contact. This perspective highlights the “vibrant” and persistent nature of indigenous agency in the face of European expansion.