c.

c. AD 1000 – 1500 (Theory): The “connected Caribbean” model utilizes a socio-material network approach to explain patterns of cultural homogeneity and diversity. A.A.A. Mol argues that by mapping interaction networks—such as the exchange of guaízas (shell masks)—archaeologists can see how individual agency and communal ties shaped the region. This perspective challenges the idea of isolated island cultures, suggesting instead that the Caribbean was a vibrant, integrated landscape where social networks were the primary drivers of cultural change.