c.

c. AD 1000 – 1500 (Theory): The “connected Caribbean” model utilizes a socio-material network approach to re-evaluate the traditional boundaries of pre-contact societies. A.A.A. Mol argues that by mapping interaction networks—such as the movement of pottery, stone tools, and prestige items—archaeologists can see a more “vibrant” and integrated history than what is suggested by colonial labels like “Taíno” or “Carib.” This perspective focuses on how individual agency and communal ties created a fluid social landscape where ideas and materials flowed constantly across island borders, defining Caribbean history through its connectivity rather than its isolation.