A Brief Review

The Caribbean3 major island groups

The BahamasThe Greater AntillesThe Lesser Antilles

Located between the Gulf of Mexico (to the west) and the Atlantic Ocean (to the north and east)

Bordered by South America, Central America, and North America

HistoryIndigenous Caribs inhabited the islands when

Columbus arrived in 1492Basically wiped out over a period of a few

hundred years of European colonizationEuropeans colonized the islands

British, Dutch, Spanish, FrenchPeople of European descent represent a

minority of the Caribbean population

HistoryApproximately 75% of the populate traces

their roots to Africa slavesThere is also a significant East Indian

population (especially in Trinidad, but also Jamaica)

GeographyWarm climate year round

Dec – April is the dry seasonMay – November is the rainy season

Can experience violent and destructive Hurricanes, especially towards the end of the rainy season

Many islands are basically the tops of an underwater mountain range, formed by volcanic activity

CultureVery little indigenous culture remainsThe Caribbean is a melting pot of European,

African, Latin, and Indian cultures

LanguageCreole (mix of European and African

languages)English (Bahamas, Jamaica and most of the

lesser Antilles)Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Rep.)Other European languages (Dutch and

French)

MusicReggae/Dancehall from JamaicaCalypso and Soca from TrinidadSalsa and Latin Jazz from Cuba

ReligionThe Latin countries are predominantly

CatholicChristianity is common throughout the

CaribbeanHinduism also representedUniquely Caribbean religions:

Rastafari (Jamaica, also Bahamas, Trinidad and other islands)

Voodoo (Haiti) – not widely practiced

EconomyOriginally based mostly on sugar

Still a very important cropOther fruits, as well as cotton and coffee are

important as wellTourism very important from 1960s onward