When Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, ran aground on Haitian reefs in 1492, the crew used its timbers to construct Fort Navidad, the island's earliest European structure. It was later destroyed by Arawak Indians.
1400Before the discovery, the territory was called Quisqueya, meaning Mother of all Lands. There were four well-limited groups of original inhabitants: Tainos, Ciguayos, Lucayos and Caribe people. The first settlers were fishermen and sailors.
When Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, ran aground on Haitian reefs in 1492, the crew used its timbers to construct Fort Navidad, the island's earliest European structure. It was later destroyed by Arawak Indians.