The Caribbean
The Caribbean consists of the
Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts.
The region is comprised of over 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays.
The Caribbean includes 25 countries and dependent territories.
The Caribbean is usually regarded as a sub-region of North America but is also closely associated with South America.
The Caribbean is sometimes
referred to as the “West Indies”.
The Caribbean
The islands of the Caribbean can be separated as follows:
Greater Antilles: The 4 largest islands in the
Caribbean: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
Lesser Antilles: The smaller group of islands
from Virgin Islands down to Trinidad to Tobago
The Bahamas are a chain of about 700 islands
Geography
The geography in the Caribbean varies.
There are islands with relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origins such as the Bahamas,
Cayman Islands, Barbados and Antigua.
Many are formed by coral reefs or tops of underwater mountains.
Then there are others that possess rugged, mountainous terrain such as Cuba, St. Lucia, Grenada, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Many are formed by volcanoes or colliding tectonic plates
Climate
For the most part, the
Caribbean Islands have a tropical climate.
There is a little variation in the higher elevation of the mountains of Cuba and
Hispaniola
The average temperature is in the upper 80’s
during the summer and the lower 70’s in the
winter.
Hurricane Season
The Caribbean also experiences a wet season, typically from June-November.
This is also the time where hurricanes pose a major threat.
Hurricanes are storms w/heavy rains & fierce winds (< 75 miles per hour)
6 to 12 move through the region annually
Can have deadly consequences
Hurricane Mitch (1998) killed at least 10,000, was the most deadly tropical storm of the 20th century
Contact with the Europeans
Prior to European
arrival, the Caribbean was estimated to have a population around 750,000 Native
Amerindians.
The first contact with the Europeans
occurred on October 12, 1492 when
Christopher Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador (in
modern day Bahamas.)
Did you know?
Christopher Columbus nicknamed the islands he discovered the “West Indies”, for he had truly thought he had landed in the Pacific islands near India.
The Caribbean gets its name from the native
people who lived in the islands known as the
Carib.
European Colonization of the Caribbean
SPAIN SPAIN
FRANCE
FRANCE
BRITAIN
BRITAIN
History
Following contact with the
Europeans, the native population declined mostly due to disease and genocide.
Although many of the natives died, the population steadily rose in the
Caribbean from 1500-1800 due to the arrival of Europeans and the
importing of slaves.
In fact, 50% of ALL slaves taken from Africa ended up in the Caribbean
Islands, around 6 million individuals.
Sugarcane Plantations
The reason for importing so many African slaves to the Caribbean was that the Europeans needed labor to work the
sugarcane plantations.
Sugarcane became the worlds leading crop in the 1700’s.
Growing and harvesting cane is very labor intensive. At first they tried using the natives, but after they died, large
amounts of Africans were brought in to do the work.
The Caribbean essentially became Europe’s sugarcane factory.
Did You Know?
During the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries, the Spanish were mining staggering amounts of gold and silver bullion. The huge Spanish shipments of this treasure from the New World back to
Europe attracted many pirates.
Despite this, practical plunder for a pirate was:
Food and water supplies
Cloth for sails and markets
Spare parts and pieces for the ship (masts, ropes, lumber, etc.)
Slaves (to be sold or used)
Famous Pirates
Captain Morgan
(yes, that Captain Morgan!) Real name was Henry Morgan
Led many attacks on Spanish ships and colonies.
He most famously led a large navy to attack and destroyed Panama City.
The British even appointed him governor of Jamaica!
Blackbeard
One of the most famous pirates ever.
Real name was Edward Teach.
Was very tall and had a thick, black, platted beard.
He would also place lit wicks in his hair or in his hat so that smoke would give him a more menacing
appearance.
Had one of the largest pirate ships, the 300 ton Queen Anne’s Revenge. It had 44 guns!
His fleet had many ships and over 300 pirates.
Black Flag or Red Flag?
Pirate flags are perhaps some of the most infamous symbols of pirates.
Everyone is familiar with the typical, black Jolly Roger flag.
However, pirates had many different flags with different meanings.
Many times pirates would fly either a black or red flag.
Black flags were the most common. Black flags were good because that meant the pirates likely would not kill you, instead they would likely let you go or provide you quarter.
You really didn’t want to run into pirates flying a red flag. Red stands for bloodshed and these pirates would often kill you or subject you to cruel torture.
Independence
In the 1800’s many island nations would revolt and win their
independence from European countries.
The first movement for
independence was the French
colony of St. Domingue (Haiti), on the island of Hispaniola.
Almost all of the people who lived in the colony were slaves and easily
outnumbered their European masters.
They up rose in revolt and the former colony declared its independence under the new name of Haiti
meaning “mountainous land” in local languages.
Many countries still remain under control of a parent country.
Population of the Caribbean
In 1800, the population was around 2.2 million.
Today, the population is around 45 million!
Only about 2% of the 7,000 islands are actually
inhabited which makes it very crammed!
Population of the Caribbean
Total population is around 45 million.
86% of the region’s population is
concentrated on the four islands of the Greater Antilles.
Largest population in Cuba
Highest population
density in Puerto Rico
The People
The majority of people in the Caribbean are of African descent.
However, many have been mixed with Europeans over the years.
The mix of European and African descent has created a mulatto population throughout the Caribbean.
People of Hispanic ethnicity also have a heavy
influence in the islands as well.
European Influence
Since the arrival of the first explorers, European culture has had a heavy influence in the Caribbean.
Many countries are also under direct government control of a parent
European country.
The four dominant
European influences in the islands are British, French, Dutch and Spanish.
British Caribbean
The United Kingdom’s Caribbean
territories consist of Anguilla, the British Virgin
Islands, the Cayman
Islands, Montserrat,
and the Turks and
Caicos Islands.
French Caribbean
The countries of Guadeloupe and Martinique are
territories of France while St. Martin and Haiti are French
influenced and
French speaking
countries.
Dutch Caribbean
Aruba and the Dutch Antilles, (which
consists of Bonaire, Curaçao, and Saint Maarten), are
territories that are semi-autonomous
parts of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands.
Spanish Caribbean
The Spanish influenced areas of the Caribbean mostly refer to the
Spanish speaking islands of Cuba,
Dominican Republic
and Puerto Rico. It also includes surrounding coasts of Mexico,
Venezuela and Columbia.
European Influence
Because of the heavy European influence, many countries have
similar traditions and customs to that
of European nations.
Carnival
Carnival is a festive occasion that occurs
around Lent (usually February). Typically, it involves a public celebration and a parade
including elements of circus, masquerade and a street party.
Most of the islands in the Caribbean celebrate Carnival. The largest and most well-known
celebration is held in Trinidad and Tobago,
Dominican Republic, Antigua, Aruba, Cayman
Islands, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada,
etc.
Language
Because of the diversity, many languages are spoken throughout the Caribbean and depends on the influence of the European countries.
Languages spoken are...
Spanish – the most spoken language in the
Caribbean. mainly in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
French - spoken in Haiti and Martinique
English - spoken mainly in Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Barbados and the Bahamas
Dutch - spoken in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
Language
Spanish (24 mil.), French (8 mil.), English (6
mil.), Dutch (500,000)
In some places, new
languages have emerged such as Creole.
Creole languages are dialects; a mix of native language/slang and
parent language.
Patois (French Creole) spoken in Haiti
English Creole in Jamaica and the Virgin Islands
Religion
When it comes to religion, the Caribbean is dominated by Christianity.
However, many cultural adaptations have flourished.
Because of the connection with slavery, African influenced religions are also widely practiced such as Rastafarian and
Voodoo.
The Caribbean is full of a vibrant variety of faiths.
Rastafarian
Rastafarian religion is a movement started in Jamaica.
It is Christian based but incorporates many African themes and ways of thinking.
God is referred to as Jah and Africa is Zion, the birthplace of man and a utopia where that was once a place of unity, peace and freedom.
Rastas believe in “repatriation” or returning to their roots. Wearing their hair in dreadlock style is paying homage to ancient peoples of Africa.
Many Rastas also practice the spiritual use of cannabis as an entheogen.
An entheogen is a psychoactive substance used to help reach a transcendent state of mind (similar to nirvana in Buddhism)
Voodoo
Voodoo is a religion that combines elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites.
Voodoo came about when African slaves were forbidden from practicing their
traditional religion. Instead, they mixed in Catholic imagery into their own religion.
Voodoo is often characterized by sorcery and spirit possession and is sometimes referred to as “black magic”.
Some elements are strange to most Westerners such as animal sacrifice and the belief of bringing the dead back to life.
Despite popular belief, the use of “voodoo dolls” is not a common practice ever if used at all.
Music
Music is an important aspect in Caribbean life.
Many styles of music have
come from the islands such as:
African influences like calypso, steel drum bands, reggae.
Music of Bob Marley reflects political situation in Jamaica
Spanish influences like
merengue, mambo and rumba
Caribbean style has even influenced Western music!
Did you know?
Bob Marley is one of the most well known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican
music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.
Sadly, Bob Marley was diagnosed with cancer which had spread
throughout his body.
He did not seek treatment other than a strict diet.
He died in a Miami hospital in 1981 at age 36.
Economy
Sugar has played a crucial role in the Caribbean’s history. Today, it is still an important export,
though the importance of sugarcane has declined somewhat.
Since 1990 Cuban sugarcane harvest has reduced by 50%
There are other agriculture pursuits including
tropical fruits like bananas, coconuts and nutmeg.
Rum and tobacco are also large exports.
Because of the proximity to the US, Caribbean
nations are dependant on import/exports from the
United States.
Tourism
The largest industry; by far, is that of tourism.
Instead of agriculture or trading, many countries have adapted themselves to this very lucrative enterprise.
In the year 2000, the Caribbean received around $20 billion from tourism.
Around 20 million people visit the Caribbean annually
Over half of them coming from the U.S.
Tourism creates over 1 million jobs
U.S. Imposed Embargo on Cuba
Following the Cuban Revolution in
1960 and the adoption of a communist government, the United States has
enacted an embargo against the country of Cuba.
An embargo is a term to describe the complete prohibition of trade.
The U.S. has stated that the embargo on Cuba will continue so long as the Cuban government continues to refuse to move toward "democratization and greater respect for human rights.”
As a result, Cuba has suffered severely economically over the past 50 years.
The 51 st State?
Puerto Rico is currently a commonwealth of the U.S.
Puerto Rico became an official commonwealth in 1917.
A commonwealth is a country under direct government control of a parent country. (Australia and Great Britain)
Its people are technically U.S. citizens.
However, they cannot vote in the presidential election.
Many people want full statehood and rights.
Just the same, there has been
independence movements to seek secession from U.S.
2012 Election
In the November 2012 election, more than 800,000 Puerto Ricans voted in favor of a referendum that supported
statehood.
While the referendum for statehood of Puerto Rico was nonbinding, it was the first time such a measure garnered that majority of votes.
It would now be up to the American people to decide Puerto Rico’s fate.
The Caribbean Ring of Fire
Much of the Caribbean is situated along the Caribbean Plate.
As a result, the region is no stranger to volcanoes and earthquakes.
With being one of the most
seismically active areas on earth, including 18 active volcanoes,
some scientists have even gone as far as to calling the region of the Caribbean, the “mini Ring of
Fire”.
May 8 th , 1902
On May 8th, 1902, Mt. Pelee on the island of Martinique started erupting.
There were signs that it was going to erupt soon. In fact, the local Carib people knew Mt. Pelee as “fire
mountain” from previous eruptions.
The resulting explosion, ash, smoke, sulfur and pyroclastic flow destroyed the town of St. Pierre within minutes, killing 30,000 people. There were only 2 survivors.
It was the deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
January 12 th , 2012
On January 12
th, 2012, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred just miles away from Haiti’s capital city Port-au-Prince.
