The Caribbean

Basics about this General Area

Physical Geography

• Most of the area known as Caribe is located within the tropics.Can Anyone tell me the Degrees latitude that the tropics cover?23.5*N through 23.5*S

• All land in the Caribe is made up of islands.

4 Major Island Groups

• Greater Antilles:-include Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

• The Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos:-Include over 700 islands.

• Lesser Antilles:-From Greater Antilles down to South America.-They separate the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.

• South America Coastal Islands: Trinidad, Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao.

• Island Formations-Different physical forces shaped the islands.-Volcanic Islands:

-Formed from volcanoes pushing up from under

the sea.-Some of

these volcanoes are still active.

-These volcanic islands have rich soil so they are good for farming.-All of the Greater Antilles and some of the Lesser Antilles are volcanic islands.

• Coral Islands:-All are mostly flat land.-Mostly sandy, so there is poor agriculture.-All of the Bahamas are coral.-These islands are created by the remains of tiny sea plants and animals.

Climate in the Caribbean

• The climate on these islands is affected by the sea and wind.-Breezes blow cool water temperatures onto land.-The coastal area is more mild than the inland areas.-Even though this area is in the tropics, the temperature rarely reaches the 90’s.

The Ethnic Roots

• The original inhabitants were of 2 main groups.-Caribs: Warlike Cannibals

-Arawaks: Peaceful Indians that came from South America.

• Both of these groups were wiped out by disease, slavery, and warfare.

The Other People

• Africans:-Brought over by Europeans to work the plantations.-This group greatly influenced Caribbean culture.

• Asians:-Brought over as laborers after the abolition of slavery.-Many were indentured servants.Do you know what an indentured servant is?Someone that agrees to work off the cost of transport after arrival in a new place.

-These people came from China, India, and the Middle East.

• Europeans:-Spanish- Large Group

-Conquistadors were Spanish Conquerers.

-They settled in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.-They greatly influenced culture.

-British: Controlled most of the Caribbean.

-Bahamas, Jamaica, and much of the Lesser Antilles.-French: Controlled Haiti, Lesser Antilles Islands.-Dutch: Controlled Aruba, Curacao.

• The United States: We controlled land that we won from Spain in wartimes such as Cuba and Puerto Rico.-We also have possessions in the Lesser Antilles such as the U.S. Virgin Islands.