Defining The Caribbean

Objectives of this Lesson

1. Identify and describe the four means by which the Caribbean is defined.

2. Show how these definitions impact the people of the region.

Brief Glimpse of the Earth’s makeupIn composition, the Earth is made of three parts. Atthe center of the Earth, a body of intensely hot ironand nickel forms the core. A less dense and muchlarger middle sphere is made of materials rich in iron,magnesium and calcium comprises the mantle. Theoutermost layer is a thin veneer of lighter rocks calledthe crust.  The crust beneath the oceans is composedof heavy, dark volcanic rocks such as basalt. Continental crust is composed mostly of lighter rocks rich in silica such as granite.

The crust is made up of continental plate.

The Caribbean falls between the north and South American and the Coco Plates

The Caribbean

How would you define the Caribbean?

1. Geological Definition of the Caribbean

The Geological Caribbean is not widely used as ameans of defining the region. It however shows that there are deep seated structural features which identify commonalities. It is defined by the Caribbean Plate and experiences similar tectonic, seismic and volcanic features and processes.

The Caribbean is situated in a geologic feature known as the Caribbean Plate which has boundaries or margins with other plates nearby. A plate is a large piece of crust (on which there may be both land and ocean) and it moves in relation to other plates. On the whole the earth is made up of six or seven plates and many smaller ones. The Caribbean Plate is a small plate.

Geological commonalities

1. Earthquakes – the region is in a known earthquake zone.2. Hurricane – the region experiences

hurricanes yearly from June 1 – Nov. 303. Volcanic activities – especially in the Lesser

Antilles (the basis of their formation)

Diagram of a Volcano

Diagram of how an earthquake operates

• FOCUS - The point within the earth where the actual fault slip occurs, causing the release of earthquake energy. It may be at the surface of the earth, or many miles below the earth's surface. When a fault slips, the waves radiate in all directions.

Diagram of how an earthquake operates

• EPICENTER - The point on the surface of the earth that is directly above the focus. Once the earthquake energy reaches the epicenter, it travels along the surface of the earth in all directions. It can cause waves on the surface of the earth that will vary in amplitude depending on the composition of the earth surface.

2. The Geographical Caribbean

This describes the area washed by the Caribbean Sea and is often described as the Caribbean Basin

The Geographical Caribbean

It would therefore include most of the islands ofthe Lesser and Greater Antilles as well as themainland territories of Central America and Northern South America such as Venezuela andColumbia.

Red Marks The Spot

The Historical Caribbean

This describe the area that saw the impact of European colonization, slavery, indentureship and the plantation system. This refers to all the territories, so that one means by which we can define the Caribbeanis by identifying those countries that experienced the rule of specific European countries, namely the English, French, Dutch and the Spanish. The common feature in this definition is that they share the same historical or cultural experiences.

LEGEND

ENGLISH

SPANISH

FRENCH

DUTCH

The legend indicates the territories that were under the control of the various European powers. It should be noted that Guyana (which was first under Dutch control, then English), Surinam (which was under Dutch control)

and French Guiana (which is STILL under French control) are not represented in the previous slide. They are a part of the Caribbean because they share the same historical/cultural experiences as all those which are

represented.

The Political Caribbean

The Caribbean has three main government systems,namely:Independent States – these are former colonies

which are now self-governing. These are islands which have chosen a method of governance that is different from that of their colonial masters, namely democracy or communism;

The Political Caribbean

Associated States – these are territories which are not independent but enjoy all the rights and privileges of the country that governs it;

Colonial Dependencies – these ate territories which are directly governed by other countries but do not enjoy the rights and privileges that’s enjoyed by inhabitants in an Associated State.

LEGEND

Independent States

Associated State

Colonial Territories

Problems defining the CaribbeanGeographical Historical Geological

1 Guyana and the Bahamas do not have coastlines on the Caribbean Sea. Yet both countries are commonly accepted as part of the Caribbean

The “problem” with defining the “Caribbean” according to linguistic or European heritage, is that, that tends to ignore the commonalities of Caribbean experience at the hands of these colonial powers.

The western edge of the Caribbean Plate is located in the Pacific and includes Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama in the Caribbean.

2 This definition includes countries not normally associated with the “Caribbean” – Panama, Columbia and the other countries of Central America.

This definition would include Guyana and the Bahamas. It should also include the French, Dutch and Spanish speaking countries of the Caribbean and Central America.

This definition would include Guyana and the Bahamas. It should also include the French, Dutch and Spanish speaking countries of the Caribbean and Central America.

THE END