Caribbean. Aruba History ▫F▫First inhabitants were thought to be the Caquetíos Amerinds from the Arawak tribe (migrated from Venezuela) ▫E▫Europeans discovered.

Caribbean

Aruba• History

▫ First inhabitants were thought to be the Caquetíos Amerinds from the Arawak tribe (migrated from Venezuela)

▫ Europeans discovered it in August 1499 (Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda)

▫ Colonized by Spain for over a century

• Geography▫ Generally a flat, riverless

island▫ White, sandy beaches▫ Some rolling hills▫ To the east are two island

territories▫ Isothermal temperature▫ Tropical marine climate

Aruba cont.• Culture

▫ Mixed culture▫ Dutch influences still

seen▫ Celebrate Christmas and

New Year▫ Important holiday of the

Carnival Similar to Mardi Gras

and lasts for weeks

• Places to visit▫ Fort Zoutman and King

Willem III Tower▫ Numismatic Museum▫ California Point

lighthouse ▫ Chapel Of Alto Vista▫ Bushiribana Ruins ▫ Arikok National Park▫ Andicuri▫ Natural Bridge▫ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Bahamas• History

▫ Taino people migrated there from Hispaniola and Cuba during the 11th century AD Became known as the

Lucayans▫ About 30,000 or more

Lucayans around in 1492 when Christopher Columbus traveled there

▫ Lucayans wiped out with the arrival of the Spaniards due to exposure to new diseases Small pox wiped out half of

the populations in what is now known as the Bahamas

• Geography▫ All islands are low and

flat▫ Consists of 29 islands ▫ Climate is subtropical to

tropical ▫ Moderated significantly

by the waters of the Gulf Stream Especially during the

winter

Bahamas cont.• Culture

▫ Basketry made from palm fronds is popular on the outer islands

▫ Palm fronds are referred to as “straw” and is plaited into hats, bags, and other popular tourist items

▫ “Straw” is also used for voodoo dolls; an idea that originated from American imagination and not historical facts

▫ Obeah is a type of magic that originated from West Africa It is illegal in Bahamas and punishable by

law, but is practiced on some of the Family-Islands (outer islands)

▫ Junkanoo: traditional African street parade of music, dance, and art held in Nassau (and a few other settlements) every Boxing Day, New Year's Day Also used to celebrate other holidays and

events ▫ Regattas: important social events in many

family island settlements One or more days of sailing by old-fashion

work boats and an onshore festival

• Places to visit▫ Eleuthera▫ Nassau▫ Abaco National Park▫ Little Inagua▫ Lucayan National Park▫ Pelican Cays Land and

Sea Park

Barbados• History

▫ Indigenous peoples were Arawakan-speaking tribes Called it Ichirouganaim,

which roughly translated means “Red Land with White Teeth”

▫ Portuguese were first Europeans to arrive there when they were on their way to Brazil They named it Barbados,

which means “Bearded One”

▫ First English settlers in 1627-1628

• Geography▫ Easternmost island in the

Lesser Antilles▫ Central highland region▫ Composed of coral

Terraces in the west, incline in east

▫ Moderate tropical climate with a wet season(June-November) and a dry season(December-May)

Barbados cont.• Culture

▫ British influences▫ West African influenes▫ Crop Over festival

Carnival like cultural event

▫ Most citizens are Christian

▫ Music is an important part of the culture

• Places to visit▫ Turner Hall Woods▫ Andromeda Botanic

Gardens▫ St.John’s Parish Church▫ Codrington College▫ Farley Hill National▫ St.Nicholas Abbey▫ Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill

Cayman Islands• History

▫ Discovered by Christopher Columbus on May 10, 1503 Named it La Tortuga for the

large amount of turtles there▫ First recorded English visitor

was Sir Francis Drake in 1586▫ Remained largely uninhabited

until 17th century ▫ First permanent settlement

recorded in 1661 with Isaac Bodden

▫ English took under control with Jamaica in 1670 with the Treaty of Madrid

▫ Permanent settlement began in 1730s

• Geography▫ They are the peaks of a

massive underwater ridge Cayman Ridge

▫ South of Cuba, West of Jamaica

▫ Two “Sister Islands:” Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

▫ All three formed by large coral heads that covered submerged ice peaks

▫ Tropical marine climate

Cayman Islands cont.• Culture

▫ British, North American, and Jamaican influences Other than these three

dominant influences, there are 113 different nationalities on the three islands

▫ Christianity is the most practiced religion due to the American and European culture influences

▫ Indigenous peoples carry an air of independence with them

• Places to visit▫ Georgetown▫ Grand cayman ▫ Seven Mile Beach

Curacao• History

▫ Arawak Amerindians were the original inhabitants

▫ First Europeans (from Spain) arrived in 1499

▫ Occupied by Dutch in 1634

▫ Commerce and shipping became the most important economic activities

▫ Center for Atlantic Slave Trade in 1662

▫ Major slave revolt in 1795

• Geography▫ Transcontinental island▫ Semiarid climate

Dry season from January to September

Wet season from October to December

▫ There are salt marshes▫ Coral reefs▫ Seafloor drops steeply

within a few hundred feet of the shore (drop-off known as “blue edge”)

Curacao cont.• Culture

▫ Polyglot society▫ Papiamentu, Dutch,

English, and Spanish are the widely spoken languages 85% speak Papiamentu

▫ Education had been predominantly in Spanish until the late 19th century

▫ Dutch made sole language in education during the 20th century

• Places to visit▫ Quenn Emma Bridge▫ Otrobanda▫ Willemstad▫ Curacao Dolphin Academy▫ Curacao Ostrich and

Game Farm▫ Kura Hulanda Museum▫ Boca Tabla▫ Playa Kalki▫ Fort Nassau▫ Maritime Museum▫ Mikve Israel-Emanuel

Synagogue

Dominican Republic• History

▫ Arawakan-speaking Taínos moved there in 650 AD

▫ Spanish arrived in 1492▫ Taínos eventually fought

back against Spanish▫ France gained control of

the island in 1795captured Santo Domingo in 1801

▫ Toussaint Louverture and his followers expelled French from Santo Domingo in 1804

▫ Became independent on November 30, 1824

• Geography▫ Shares island with Haiti

at roughly a 2:1 ratio▫ Many small offshore cays▫ Four important mountain

ranges Cordillera Septentrional Cordillera Central Sierra de Neiba Sierra de Bahoruco

▫ Llano Costero del Caribe is the largest plain in the Dominican Republic

▫ Tropical climate

Dominican Republic cont.• Culture

▫ Blend of the Spanish colonists, African slaves, and Taíno natives Most prominent in food,

family structure, religion, and music

▫ Known for its music style of merengue

▫ Baseball is the most popular sport Has six teams Season goes from October

to January Has the most amount of

MLB players after the United States

• Places to visit▫ Bavaro and Punta Cana▫ Casa de Campo (La

Romana)▫ Playa Dorada, Puerto

Plata and Cabarete▫ La Península de Samaná▫ Barahona and Santo

Domingo▫ CapCana Resorts

Haiti• History

▫ Inhabited by Taíno Indians before Europeans arrived

▫ Before Christopher Columbus arrived, it was divided into six different caciquedoms (tributary kingdoms)

▫ Christopher Columbus landed there on December 5, 1492

▫ Spaniards exploited the island for gold Mined by locals, who

were forced to by the Spanish

• Geography▫ Western part of

Hispaniola▫ Rugged mountains▫ Small coastal plains▫ River valleys▫ Northern region:

Massif du Nord Plaine du Nord

▫ Southern region: Plaine du Cul-de-Sac

Haiti cont.• Culture

▫ French, African, and native Taíno cultures, with some influences from Spanish

▫ European and African elements dominate

▫ Customs are a blend of indigenous cultural beliefs

▫ Music influenced by European colonial ties and African migration (slavery)

• Places to visit▫ Port-au-Prince▫ La Souvenance ▫ Cathedrale de Port-au-

Prince▫ Musée d'Art Haïtien du

Collège St. Pierre▫ Bassins Bleu▫ Etang Saumatre▫ Parc National Historique

La Citadelle▫ Cap-Haitien ▫ Musée Nationale▫ Citadelle Laferrière

Jamaica• History

▫ Arawak and Taino peoples settled there from South American between 4000 and 1000 BC

▫ Christopher Columbus arrived there in 1494 At the time there were

over 200 villages ruled by caciques

▫ English took over Spanish fort in 1655

▫ Slaves fled to the mountains when Spanish released them after English took over

• Geography▫ Third largest island in

Caribbean▫ Inland are the Blue

Mountains and they are surrounded by a narrow coastal plain

▫ Tropical climate, though it is more temperate in the higher inland regions

Jamaica cont.• Culture

▫ Strong global presence ▫ Influencial music:

Reggae Ska Mento Rocksteady Dub Dancehall Ragga Helped development of

punk rock and American rap

▫ Most popular local sport is cricket, but they excel in Track and Field

• Places to visit▫ Chukka Adventure Tours▫ Bob Marley's Nine Miles▫ Dunn's River Falls▫ Dolphin Cove Attraction▫ Negril's day and Sunset

Tour

Leeward Islands, French (St. Martin)

• History▫ Arawak Indians settled

there in 800 AD from South America

▫ Columbus claimed for Spain on November 11, 1493

▫ French began cultivating tobacco in 1624

▫ Divided into French and Dutch zones on March 23, 1648

▫ English ruled from 1690-1699

▫ French ruled from 1699-1702

▫ Dutch ruled from 1703-1717

• Geography ▫ Hill chains▫ No rivers▫ Dry forests

Leeward Islands, French (St. Martin) cont.• Culture

▫ Festive nightlife▫ English is the most

commonly spoken language, as well as a local dialect

▫ French, Dutch, and English are the official languages

• Places to visit▫ Tijon Parfumerie &

Boutique▫ Swaliga Charters▫ Captain Alan's Three

Island Snorkeling Adventure

▫ Random Wind▫ Maho Beach▫ Scuba Zen▫ The Butterfly Farm (La

Ferme des Papillons)▫ Orient Beach▫ Loterie Farm▫ Dawn Beach

Martinique• History

▫ Discovered by Columbus in 1493

▫ Claimed by French in 1635

▫ Produced large amounts of sugar cane

• Geography▫ North part of the island is

mountainous and lushly salted

▫ South is mostly beaches

Martinique cont. • Culture

▫ Mix of French and Caribbean influences

▫ French is the official language

▫ Many people speak Martiniquan Creole

▫ Most inhabitants are descendants from African slaves

▫ Cuisine mixes elements from African, French, Carib Amerindian and South Asian foods

• Places to visit▫ Fort-de-France▫ La Savanne▫ St Pierre▫ Le Carbet▫ The South (beaches)

Montserrat• History

▫ Arawak and Carib peoples lived there before Columbus claimed it in 1493

▫ Fell under English control in 1632

▫ Briefly captured by France in 1782 due to the American Revolutionary War

▫ Slavery abolished in 1834▫ From 1871-1958 it was

considered a part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands

• Geography▫ East southeast of Puerto

Rico and southwest of Antigua

▫ Island is growing due to volcanic deposits on southeast coast

▫ Dramatic rock-faced cliffs▫ Beaches▫ Coves▫ Two islets

Little Redonda and Virgin

Statue Rock

Montserrat cont.• Culture

▫ Cricket is a popular sport▫ Has its own FIFA

Affiliated football team

• Places to visit▫ Green Monkey Dive Shop▫ Soufriere Hills Volcano▫ Montserrat Volcano

Observatory▫ Jack Boy Hill Viewing

Facility▫ Oriole Walkway Trail▫ Cot Trail▫ Rendezvous Beach▫ Oriole Complex

Puerto Rico• History

▫ History is not well known from before Columbus arrived there

▫ First comprehensive historical book was written in 1786 by Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra

▫ When Columbus arrived, the island was inhabited by the Taínos

▫ Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista for Saint John the Baptist

• Geography▫ Consists of the main

island and various smaller islands Only two of the smaller

islands are inhabited year round

▫ Composed of Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks

Puerto Rico cont.• Culture

▫ Unique mix of Africans, Taíno, Spanish, and North American cultures

▫ Catholic religion is the majority of the cultural values and traditions

▫ Culture centers on the influence of music

• Places to visit▫ Cabo Rojo Lighthouse ▫ Guajataca ▫ Gilligan's Island▫ Vieques Island▫ San Juan▫ El Yunque National

Forest▫ Camuy Caves Park▫ Ponce

St. Kitts & Nevis• History

▫ Was settled by Native Americans five thousand years before Europeans arrived

▫ Discovered by Columbus in 1493

▫ French Huguenots established a settlement in 1538, but it was destroyed

▫ English established a settlement in 1623

▫ Nevis colonized in 1628 by English from St. Kitts

• Geography ▫ Two main islands▫ Islands are of volcanic

origin▫ Large central peaks

covered by tropical rainforests

▫ Terrain is flatter out by the coasts

St. Kitts & Nevis cont. • Culture

▫ Known for musical celebrations

▫ Cricket is the common sport

▫ They have a football team▫ Billiard Federation

• Places to visit ▫ Brimstone Hill▫ Sandy Bay Beach▫ Basseterre▫ Frigate Bay Beach▫ Plantations

St. Lucia• History

▫ Europeans arrived there between 1492 and 1502

▫ Was first settled by the French

▫ After British took control, Africans were imported as slaves

▫ Many natives died due to the foreign diseases Europeans brought over Smallpox Measles

▫ British secured island in 1814

• Geography▫ Made of volcanic material▫ Much more mountainous

than any other Caribbean island

▫ Tropical climate▫ Northeast trade winds▫ Dry season from

December 1 to May 31▫ Wet season from June 1

to November 30

St. Lucia cont. • Culture

▫ Influenced by African, East Indian, French, and English heritage

▫ Carnival before Lent▫ Soca, salsa, zumba and

reggae music

• Places to visit▫ Pigeon Island National

Park▫ Anse Chastanet Beach

and Reef▫ Errard Plantation▫ Fregate Island Nature

Reserve▫ Maria Islands Nature

Reserve▫ Anse Mamin▫ St. Lucia Rain Forest

St. Maarten (Netherlands Antilles)• History

▫ Columbus claimed it as a Spanish territory, but he never actually landed there

▫ Since Spanish did not settle there, the French and Dutch did

▫ Dutch founded settlements there in 1631

▫ Captured from the Dutch by the Spanish in 1633

▫ Spanish deserted the island in 1648

• Geography▫ Lowlands▫ Tropical climate▫ Two island groups

St. Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) cont. • Culture

▫ Dutch and English are the official languages

▫ English-based Creole dialect also spoken

▫ Different influences apparent in languages spoken (European and West African influences)

• Places to visit▫ Philipsburg▫ Marigot▫ Grand Case▫ Orient Bay▫ Maho Bay ▫ Mullet Bay▫ Loterie Farm

St. Vincent & Deps. (Baquia, Canouan Grenadines)• History

▫ Discovered by Columbus in 1498 on his third expedition

▫ Discovered on January 22nd, which was a holiday celebrating the patron saint of Portugal It has been said that this

is wrong, and that Columbus was nowhere near the island on that date

• Geography▫ 18 miles long, 11 miles

wide▫ Dominated by an active

volcano Erupted violently in

1812 and 1902 Most recent was on April

13, 1979▫ Tropical humid▫ Has both black sand and

white sand beaches

St. Vincent & Deps. (Baquia, Canouan Grenadines) cont. • Culture

▫ Practices and beliefs of the Caribs and West African descendants

▫ Music is a major part of the culture

▫ Speak English and Venetian Creole

• Places to visit▫ The

Mesopotamia/Marriaqua Valley

▫ Montreal Gardens▫ La Soufriere▫ Trinity Falls▫ The Botanical Gardens▫ Vermont Nature Trail▫ Owia Salt Pond▫ The Cathedral of the

Assumption▫ Black Point Tunnel▫ Fort Charlotte

Turks & Caicos Islands• History

▫ Named after indigenous Turk's Head "fez" cactus and the Lucayan term "caya hico", meaning string of islands

▫ First inhabitants were Arawakan-speaking Taíno people that traveled over from Hispaniola

▫ Spanish began capturing the natives in 1492 and wiped out indigenous population

▫ First documented European sighting was in 1512

• Geography▫ Geographically

contiguous to the Bahamas, but is a separate entity

▫ Primarily low, flat limestone

▫ Extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

▫ Weather is usually sunny and relatively dry

▫ Limited fresh water resources

Turks & Caicos Islands cont. • Culture

▫ Most of the populations today are descendants of the African slaves that were brought over

▫ Many immigrants from Haiti and Dominican Republic

▫ Traditional music, folklore and sisal weaving are still major parts of the culture

• Places to visit▫ National Parks▫ Turks and Caicos

Museum▫ The Hole▫ Iguana Island▫ Caicos Conch Farm▫ The Cheshire Hall

Plantation

Virgin Islands, US• History

▫ Originally inhabited by Ciboney, Carib, and Arawaks

▫ Named by Columbus for Saint Ursula and her followers during his 1493 voyage

▫ Danish West India Company settled in St. Thomas in 1672, St. John in 1694, and purchased St. Croix in 1733

▫ Became royal Danish colonies in 1754

• Geography▫ West of British Virgin

Islands▫ White, sandy beaches▫ Volcanic origin▫ Hilly▫ Coral reefs▫ St. Croix has flatter

terrain than the others▫ Saint Thomas, Saint John,

Saint Croix, and Water Island are the main islands

Virgin Islands, US cont.• Culture

▫ Both Caribbean and American

▫ Calypso music, reggae, American pop, salsa, blues, oldies, rock and roll, and many other music genres

▫ Many of the people are Baptist or Catholic

▫ Superstitions and storytelling are popular

• Places to visit ▫ Trunk Bay▫ Charlotte Amalie▫ Coki Beach▫ Fort Christian▫ Haagensen House▫ Cinnamon Bay▫ Annaberg▫ Catherineburg▫ The Reef Bay Sugar Mill

Virgin Islands, British• History

▫ First settled by Arawak that migrated from South America around 100 BC

▫ Displaced in 15th century by the Caribs

▫ First European sighting in 1493 by Columbus on his second voyage

▫ Spanish claimed the islands in 16th century

▫ English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish all took turns with controlling the islands

• Geography▫ East of U.S. Virgin Islands▫ of Tortola, Virgin Gorda,

Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke are the main islands There are 56 other

smaller islands▫ North Atlantic Ocean to

the north and Caribbean Sea to the south

▫ Most are of volcanic origin and are hilly

▫ Tropical climate

Virgin Islands, British cont. • Culture

▫ Traditional music is called fungi after a local cornmeal dish Fusion of European and

African music▫ Primary language that is

spoken is English with a quick creole accent

• Places to visit ▫ Apple Bay ▫ Brewer's Bay ▫ Cane Garden Bay ▫   Josiah's Bay ▫ Elizabeth Beach ▫ Long Bay (East)▫ Callwood Distillery ▫ The Dungeon ▫ Fort Burt ▫ Fort Recovery ▫ Josiah's Bay Plantation