UH HUH! When was the last time I did anything short? 😇
"THE CARIBBEAN," a/k/a "The West Indies," derives its name - unsurprisingly -from the Carib native tribes that once populated this area of the world. Each time I do a "wiki" search of one of our ports of call, there is always a very brief mention of the former "indigenous" inhabitants. But never any depth. The current population of the Caribbean (we will attempt to define it better below) is about 41 million. That, presumably, is residents and doesn't include the substantial number of annual visitors. Different sources range that figure to between 25 and 35 million international visitors!
CONVENTIONAL "CARIBBEAN history" usually starts with something like, "when the Europeans arrived . . . ." Who doesn't remember the (inaccurate and perhaps even revisionist) history of Sir Christopher Columbus' "discovery of America? As a very young person, I grew up thinking that meant he sailed into port somewhere in the U.S. and planted the Spanish Flag, claiming what we now know as "The United States of America" as Spanish territory. He didn't do that at all.
BUT WHAT Columbus did "discover" (at least as far as Europe was concerned) was what we might call "the Americas" He was probably the most famous - and maybe first - explorer from Europe to do so. His first landing was in the Bahamas, which actually is neither the "New World" (U.S.), or the Caribbean (more on that later). The goal of Columbus' voyages was to find and confirm a presumed "shortcut" to the East Indies (essentially, Asia) in an effort to find an alternative to the sometimes treacherous "Spice Route." It wasn't until a year later, in 1493, on a second voyage to "the new world," that he made landfall in the actual Caribbean: St. Croix, (now part of the U.S.V.I.). He was a determined explorer, if nothing else. In 1494, he made landfall on what is now Jamaica. None of them were the East Indies. Ironically, the region he sailed to multiple times is referred to as "the West Indies."
I THINK some geography would be helpful right about now. The "Caribbean" as we know it today, is formed by lands surrounding the Caribbean Sea. To the west and south are the mainland of Central and South America (Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela). To the north and east are the island archipelago of "The Antilles." The larger islands to the west (Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico are known as "The Greater Antilles." The numerous and mostly much smaller islands to the east are known as "The Lesser Antilles." Because Columbus was seeking (and may have believed he found) Asia and "The East Indies," the whole area above is also often referred to as "The West Indies." While as cruisers, we think of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos as "The Caribbean," technically, they are not. Both are in the Atlantic (not in the Caribbean Sea). Because they continue to be important cruise points, I think we can continue to include them in our broad definition here, of "The Caribbean."
HISTORIANS BELIEVE that the islands were probably formed in a couple different ways. The Greater Antilles, it is believed, was most likely at one time connected to the mainland by land bridge. It is likely that much of the early migration of people were over that land bridge. In contrast, it is thought that most of the Lesser Antilles were most likely volcanic. Early inhabitants there most likely came by water. It is possible that Trinidad, the closest to the South American Peninsula was also attached by land bridge at one time.
BUT WHO was there before the Europeans arrived? The history of the inhabitants of the Caribbean is unclear. Most of what we know comes during and after the period of "discovery" which we will call, for convenience, the "Columbian" period.
SOMEWHAT SKETCHY history and archeology suggests that humans began to inhabit this region shortly after the Ice Age, and as long ago as 9000 B.C. Historians believe that Trinidad was probably the first inhabited Caribbean Island and was probably attached to the mainland by land bridge. I find it fascinating that historians attribute the eventual rising seas and disconnect of these now-islands to Climate Change. In 9000 B.C.!😐
REFERRED TO (perhaps euphemistically) as "Amerindians" the most probable early inhabitants were of Arawak descent and probably originated somewhere in the Amazon Valley, migrated up into Columbia and Venezuela, and then to the Antilles.
I find it fascinating that historians attribute the eventual rising seas and disconnect of these now-islands to Climate Change. In 9000 B.C.!
EVENTUALLY, THE Arawak origin branched to Taino, and perhaps, Carib. They all seemed to have similar cultures and the Taino, who seem to have emerged as the earliest settlers of the Antilles, shared the Arawak-based language (though the Caribs had their own, Kalinago language). Archeologists have found evidence on both the main peninsula and the islands in the form of elaborate pottery, ringed villages, raised fields, and large mounds, including evidence that they modified the soil using various techniques such as adding charcoal to transform it into black earth. According to historians, these are all indicators of a complex culture. The Taino appears to have been a particularly Antilles-based people.
TO THIS world and culture, the Europeans arrived in the late part of the 15th century. And changed everything. This should not come as a surprise - at least not for any student of history. This was during what was known in Europe as "The Age of Discovery" (exploration), and dominant European nations (particularly those with robust naval and shipping capacity), began to explore - and conquer - the world. Spain, Portugal, France and England were continuously engaged in struggles for control both at home in Europe and around the world (including frequent hostilities in the Caribbean. Later, the Dutch and Danish would join the fray. Colonization (and exploitation) of many of these places ensued, including the Caribbean, the western Americas, and Mexico. This pattern continued for centuries. By the 17th Century, a new player, the United States, became involved.
AT FIRST, the Europeans discovered gold and other minerals in the Caribbean. They set up colonies, mined gold, traded (though often unscrupulously) with the native inhabitants, and eventually overcame them by force. Over time, the Europeans realized the potential in the rich soils and temperate climate for agriculture. The Caribbean was particularly suited to the cultivation of sugar cane and became at one time the world's largest producer and supplier of sugar and molasses. Sugar was a labor-intensive crop, and they began to import African Slaves into the region. This created an entirely new tension, which continued until well after the United Kingdon abolished slavery in 1833. It was not until 1865 that the U.S. finally passed the 13th Constitutional Amendment officially abolishing slavery in the U.S.
THE BLACK slave culture produced a number of slave-rebellions throughout the Caribbean Region over the years. Perhaps the most famous was in Haiti and happened earlier - but is probably demonstrative of the atmosphere at the time. In 1791, a Haitian slave "uprising" ultimately became "The Haitian Revolution," (no doubt heartened by the U.S. Revolution just a few years early). The revolutionaries ultimately overthrew the French Colonial government and in 1804, Haiti gained its independence. Haiti still holds the distinction of being the world's first Black republic and was only the second (following the U.S.) independent republic in the western hemisphere.
A NUMBER of other Caribbean states gained independence in the years to follow. In 1821, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, all on the main South American Peninsula, gained their independence. In the Greater Antilles, both Cuba and Puerto Rico remained under Spanish control until 1898, following the Spanish American War. The victory by the U.S. in that war established the U.S. as the major power in South and Central America. In the 1898 Treat of Paris, the U.S. was granted control over Puerto Rico, and given temporary control and supervision over Cuba. Puerto Rico remains a territory of the United States. As a condition to full and final withdrawal of American troops from Cuba, the new Cuban nation signed another treaty, which essentially gave the U.S. "police-powers" over Cuba, agreeing that the U.S. could intervene militarily if they deemed it necessary. As later history would demonstrate, the tensions between the U.S. and Cuba grew and still exist to this day. Wouldn't it be nice if we could find a way to relax those tensions and once-again, allow cruise ship stops in Cuba?
TODAY, ONLY a handful of Caribbean territories remain under "colonial" control. Between 1958 and 1962 most of the territories who had not gained independence were controlled by the British, who years ago had established Naval Superiority in Europe. In 1962, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago became independent. In ensuing years Barbados (1966), Bahamas (1973), Grenada (1974), Dominica (1978), St. Lucia and St. Vincent (1979), Antigua (1981), and St. Kitts and Nevis (a federation - 1983) all gained their independence. Guadeloupe and Martinique remain French Colonies. St. Maarten and St. Bart's are "collectives" of France. The British continue to have colonial control over Anguilla, Bermuda, The British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos. And of course, the U.S. retains control over Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John's, St. Croix and some very small islands).
EVENTUALLY, THE sugar industry began to decline. There were a number of reasons for the decline, but in the end, the Caribbean ceased to be the world's largest producer. Sugar has remained, however an important crop. Today, other important crops include fruit (especially bananas), spices, and tobacco. Oil refining has also been an up and down component in the Caribbean economy. For a time, offshore banking was also a significant Caribbean industry. For wealthy residents of the U.S. these islands - once they became independently sovereign, were very convenient places for offshore holdings. That, too, has declined more recently, particularly in light the U.S. Patriot Act. Bringing us back to where we started. Tourism. It has become one of, if not the most important industry in the Caribbean.
HIGHLY DEPENDENT on tourism, the Caribbean today, by my observation, the divide between wealth and the less economically fortunate is pretty obvious if you travel around these islands. In most instances, highly dependent on tourism, what we as visitors and tourist see is often what some want us to see. Our visions of the Caribbean - colorful, sandy beaches, restaurants and bars (think Sen'or Frog), and clean modern facilities - are usually present at the cruise ports and major tourist areas. But having done some touring on a couple of the island-interiors, I have seen some very poor, and other less economically fortunate residents and areas. It puts my own good fortune for the things I have and the place I live in a very different light.
I FOUND researching and writing this fascinating. It helps me put my Caribbean Cruise adventures into a better historical perspective. I will continue to research the individual destinations as we visit them, but this was a useful exercise for me, and I hope, an interesting piece for the readers here.
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