The Philippines before the invasion of spain

Before the Spanish invasion in the 16th century, the Philippines was a diverse archipelago with complex societies, rich cultures, and active trade networks. Here are some key aspects of the Philippines before Spanish colonization: Social and Political Organization Barangays: The basic unit of social organization was the barangay, a community of 30 to 100 families. Each barangay was led by a chieftain called a datu, who held both political and economic power. Confederations: Some barangays formed larger political entities known as confederations or alliances for mutual defense and economic cooperation. Notable examples include the Confederation of Madja-as and the Rajahnate of Butuan. Culture and Society Languages and Writing: Various Austronesian languages were spoken, and several scripts, like the Baybayin, were used for writing. These scripts facilitated the documentation of trade, laws, and poetry. Religion: Indigenous animistic beliefs were predominant, with a pantheon of deities and nature spirits. Islam was also spreading in the southern parts, particularly in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, due to influence from traders and missionaries from the Malay world. Arts and Crafts: Filipinos engaged in various crafts like weaving, pottery, metalwork, and wood carving. Artistic expressions were evident in their clothing, tattoos, and musical instruments. Economy and Trade Agriculture: The economy was primarily agrarian, with rice, coconuts, and root crops as staples. The Filipinos practiced slash-and-burn agriculture as well as wet-rice cultivation in terraced fields. Trade: The Philippines had vibrant trade relations with neighboring regions, including China, Japan, India, and the Malay Archipelago. Goods such as gold, pearls, spices, and ceramics were exchanged. Chinese traders, in particular, played a significant role in pre-colonial trade networks. Craftsmanship and Local Industries: Skilled craftsmanship in weaving, metalwork, and boat-building sup