Cuba has a rich and complex history, starting with the significant pre-European civilizations that once thrived on the island. The two main indigenous groups of Cuba were the Taíno and the Ciboney. The Taínos were the most popular civilization in Cuba between 300CE and when the European colonizers came to Cuba. They were part of the larger Arawakan-speaking group of the Caribbean, and before the Spanish colonists arrived, the Taíno established many settlements. The Ciboney, meaning “Cave Dweller” in the Arawak language, spent most of their time in caves and were later overpowered and mostly driven by Taíno culture. Cuba’s colonization began in 1511 under Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. He and his men first settled in the city of Baracoa, located on the island's east side. Over the next few decades, more and more men came until there were enough of them to overthrow and take control over the island, eventually founding cities like Havana (the capital of Cuba) and Santiago de Cuba. The Taíno population quickly decreased due to diseases brought by the Spanish, such as smallpox, as well as overwork and violence from the colonizers. Cuba was firmly under Spanish control until 1898. This period shaped and changed Cuban culture tremendously, with sugar plantations and Catholicism being the main religion. The Ten Years’ War from 1868-1878 was the first major attempt to gain independence from Spain, which ultimately failed. The second major attempt at independence was what ultimately succeeded: The Spanish-American war, which lasted around four months. The Treaty of Paris was what helped end this war since it forced Spain to lose control of Cuba. However, Cuba’s independence was still complicated due to the influence of the United States.