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Most of the Caribbean islands are located in a sweeping arc streaching from easten Venezuela to Floria/Yucatan. The islands are divided into the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamica, and Puerto Rico) and the many smaller islands of the Lesser Antilles. Generall included in the Cribbean is the Bahama, although it is located just outside the Caribbean, north of Cuba. It was here Columbus labded and European volonization began by the Spanish. The Caribbean became known as the Spanish Maine. The Spanish attracted by reports of rich Native American empires on the mainland, turned their attention from the Caribbean. Most of the Greater Antilles remained Spanish, except Jamaica taken from the Spanish by the British. Other European powers seized the small islands of the Lesser Antilles, most of which were not even settled by the Spanish. Spain showed so little interest in the smaller islands so the Dutch, English, and French developed navies string enough to contest control of the region with the spanish. As a result, the Caribbean today is a patch-work quilt of Europwean settlement. These islands may not seem to be of great importance, but the of sugar plantations, but in the development of sugar plantations turned small islands into some of the most vluble realestate in the world (17th century). Captive Africans were brought into worl the plantations in horific conditions, dramatically changing the ethnic map of the region. The colonia powers included Denmark, England, France, the Netherlands, and ultimately the United States. Only the Portuguese did not enter the Caribben, because a Papal Bull decreed that it was allocated to Spain. Haiti on Hipaniola became the first country to achieve independence, followed by the neighboring Dominican Republic . Finally Cuba and Puerto Rico was liberared from Spanish rule by the United States. Denmark sold the Virgin Islands to America (1917). After World War II, most of the islands were granted independence by Bitain, although several of the smaller islands continued their Dutch anbd French ties. Puerto Rico became an American Commonwealth. Most of the islands have continued to struggle with economic development.
The Bahamas is located east of southern Florida, spaared by the Gulf Stream. It is where Columbus first lannded. It could not have been more different than what he had expected. He expected to find the Indies, a rich land with valuable trade goods. He found primitive naked natives with little but food to offer. The Bahamas is an archepeligo of over 700 islands. Most are small an uninhabited. Nassau is the largest settlement. There are only 17 islands of any size. Nassau is on New Providence. The population is about 0.4 million people. Some 75 percent of the population lives on New Providence. Half of the rest of the population lives Grand Bahama Island. A majority of the populstion identifies as being of African origin. Many are mulattoes to varying degrees. There are a small number of whites, commonly called 'Conky Joes'. The Bahamas has not oplayed a major role in history. It was of some importnce during the American Civil War when Confederate blockade runners used Nassau.
Barbados is the most easterly of the Catibbean islands, actually located outsude the Caribbean.
It is a coral island formed by volcanic activity. The west coast have fine white sand beaches and a blue-green sea. Coral reefs fringe the coast providing an inviting tiurist snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. The eastern or Atlantic coast has a stronger surg created by strong trade winds. The winds pound a rocky shore. The breeze gives the island a pleasant tropical climate. The island is basically flat, but there are rolling hills as well as deep ridges and gullies. As a result most of the island was converted to sugar plantations. This made the island a very valuable colonial possession. Wugar ciontinues to be important, but after World War II tiurism emerged as the most important economic activity.
The island is geologically unique, created by two separate land masses that merged.
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Barbados was the first British colony in the Caribbean and is one of the more traditional former British colonies in the Caribbean. We have prepared a history. We do have a page on Barbadian schools.
We have developed a basic history of Cuba. We do not have much informstion on boys' clpthing until the 20th century. We note many Cuban boys in the late 19th century wearing the kind of white shirt and pants common throughout the Spanish speaking Caribbean and Mexico. More afflient boys in the cities wore Spanish styled clothing. After independence, the United states was more of a fashion influence, we even see boys wearing knickers. Under Spain, Cuba was an economic and social backwater. After independence, Cuba made a great deal of economic progress, fueled in part through American investment and trade. Cuba developed one of the most prosperous middle classes in Latin America. Percapita income was very high by Latin American standards--something Cuban authorities do not like to mention. While high, income was unevely distributed. Rural agricultural labors, often of African duscent, did not participate in Cuba's prosperity. As a result of the prosperity, we note images of quite well dressed Cuban childrem especially in the cities. This changed after Castro seized power (1959). The Revolution reduced the disparities in Cuban society, essentially by majing everyone poor. Percapita incomes today are among the lowest in Latin America. The poverty in Cuba since the Revolution has significantly affected fashion and clothing as a result of the very limited buying power of the average Cuban. Clothing is rationed. Cuba is the only contry in Latin America which rations clothing and food. Few Cuban parents can afford to dress themselves or their children well. The Government intoduced uniforms for Cuban schoolwear.
Dominica is a small island in the Lesser Atilles located between Guadelpe and Martinique. It is the most mountainous island in the Caribbean. Rather than inviting beaches, this volcanic island in many places virtually erupts straight out of the sea forming preciptous cliffs. This aided the natives in resisting the Europeans. It also provided refuges for runaway slaves. And it reuced the land area that could be converted to plantation sugar culture. This meant that fewer Europeans were attracted go the island. We do not yet have a Dominica page. We have begun to work on Dominican history and have a page on slavery.
The Dominican Republic is the eastern part of Santo Domingo. The history of Santo Domingo was the sanme until the colonia era. Santo Domingo was the first Spanisgh colony in the New Wiorld. Spanish brutality and disease rapidly desimated the Native American population. African slaves were introduced as labor. Gradually sugar emerged as the primary crop. The Spanish managed to retain control in the west of after the slave rebellions in the west and the establishment of Haiti (late-18th century). We do not yet have a page on the Dominican Republic. We do have a page on Dominican history. We also have, however, a page on Dominican schoolwear.
Grenada has been called the Spice Island. It is the southernmost island of the north-south arc of the Lesser Antilles north of Trinidad. It is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea about 100 miles (160 km) north of Venezuela and Trinidad. The island is basically oval in shape, about 21 miles (34 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide. The southern Grenadines, the largest of which is Carriacou, are a dependency. The capital, St. George's, is located on the southwest coast. It is the main port, with a fine natural harbor. The picturesque pastel-coloured houses rise up the hillsides from the waterfront. The waterfront s known as the Carenage because island schooners were once careened (beached for cleaning or repair) there. St. George's is the yachting and charter-boat center of the eastern Caribbean. The tiouruist industry, hiowever, is mot as well developed as many of the Caribbean Islands. Grenada attained independence within the Commonwealth and membership in the United Nations (1974). It was the first of the six West Indies Associated States to do so. A Cuban supported Marxist group seized control of the usland. It was supressed by an American intervention (1983). We do not yet have a page on Grenada. We do have a page on Grenadian schools.
Guadeloupe is one of the two principal French Carbbean islands in the Caribbean. It is one of the Leeward islands. It was discovered by Columbus (1493). Given the number of islands, many Caribbean islands were no colonized by Spain or settld only minimally. Spain abandined the island as unprofitable (1604). The French settled the island (1635) and it became enebsely popular for plabtation sugar agricukture, although the regged erraine limited th arable land. Britain contested possession od the island wuth France until the Congress of Vienna settked many issues after the final defeat of Napoleon (1815). We do not yet have a Guadeloupe geberal page, but we do have a Guadeloupe education page.
Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, one of the major Caribbean islands. Haiti is the western one-third of the island and is French speaking rather than Spanish like the Dominican Republic. It was in the 18th century the most valuable colony in the Caribbean because of the sugar profuction based on plantations and slave labor. The Soanish had descimated the Native American population so both Spanish and French officials imported African slaves. The apauling conditions combined with the French revolution resulted in a slave revolt and eventual independendence. We have developed some historical background. The world comminity, however, for many years refused to recognize Haiti. This isolation and incompetent rule has left Haiti the poorest country in the America. Economic failure has led to a range of ecological problems, including deforestation and overfishing. We have not yet developed much information on Haitian boys clothing. Trends seem similar to the Dominican Republic. We see boys in the early-20th century wearing the kind of common compesino clothing--white or light-colored shirts and long pants. Both the climate and poverty have affected boys clothing. Boys now wear the same basic styles of casual clothes worn in the United States, although many children can not aford shoes. HBC has a page on Haitian education.
Jamaica in the Greater Antillews is an island in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba. It is the only large Caribbean island country not part of the Antillean arc. Unlike the other major Antillean islands, it is located in within the Caribbean, not on the perifery separating the Caribbean from the Atlantic. It is the third-largest island in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles. The island in pre-Colombian times was settled by the Taíno,. They called it Xaymaca, meaning 'Land of Wood and Water' or sometimes tanslated as ''Land of Springs'. The island was discovered by Columbus on his second voyage (1494). Janaica known as Santiago thus became part of the Spanish Main. The Spanish took little interest in Jamaica, especially as their intrest with the Cortez's assault on the Aztec Empire turned to the Mainland (1519). As a result the English were able to seize the island relatively easily and they named in Jamaica based on the Taino nane (1655). They turned the colony into a profitable sugar producer using slave labor. The original Native America population was largely exterminated. Most of the populattion is thus of African origins. Maroon escaped slaves resisted the British in the rugged interior. The Great Slave Revolt (1835) played a major role in the British decesion to abolish slavery. Britain granted independence (1962). It has a population of some 3 million people making it the third largest Anglophone country in the Americas. The poor performance of the economy has caused considerable emigration, many emigrating to Britain. The most important industry is toursim. The couuntry has eautiful rain forests and beaches and is located close to the United States. Violence and crime, however, has adversely affected tourist interest.
Martinique in the Lesser Antilles is located located in the Leeward (Windward) Islands, north of St. Lucia and south of Dominica. There are beautiful white sand beaches in the south. Rain forests and black sand beaches are found in the north. The interior of the island is rugged mountainous terraine. Martinique. It is one of the two principal French Caribbean islands. Martinique like many Caribbean islands is of volcanic origins. Yje island is dominated by Mount Pelée. Martinique's first inhabitants foe which much was known were the Arawaks island hoping north from South America. Most were killed by an eruption of Mount Pelee (295 AD). Gradually the Arawaks returned followed by the more war-like Caribs, although scholars debate the origins and nature of the of the Caribs. Columbus discovered Martinque (1502). The Spanish were, however, unable to settle all the many Caribbean islands, And before the development of plantation sugar agriculture, the settlmt of many small islands was not economic. Esnanbuc oversaw French settlement (1635). Guadeloupe and Martinie were settled at the same time. Possessions was contested by the British. British possesion of Dominica separated Martinique frpm the other French island, Guadeloupe. The sugar culture developed by the Dutch in Brazil was introduced in Martinique (1654). Sugar made Martiniue a very valuable possession for France. It soon became the principal crop with exports of both sugar and rum. Captive Africans had to be brought into work as slaves on the plantations. Colonists living on the island have been subject to earthquakes, hurricanes, tidal waves, and volano eruptions. Virtually the entire population of Fort de France was killed by the eruption pf Pelée--30,000 people were killed (1902). Martinique is today an overseas department of France. It has an intriguing mix of Creole, African, French and Indian cultures. The deep roots of the Creole culture come directly from many Africans imported to work the sugar plantations. Tourism flourishes on Martinique and hs become the major industry. The beaches, climate, and Crole culture attract hundreds of thousands of tourists and a popular stop for cruise ships.
The Netherlands was too small to generate the naval power to gain and maintain possession of the more valuable Caribbean islands that supported sugar plantations. It was able to retain control of several islands, pruimarily the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonine, and Curaçao) off the cost of western Venezuela. Unlike the image of lush tropical foliage. These islands are rather arid. The Dutch colonised the islands (17th century). The poor agricuture is probably why the larger colonial islands did not suze the islands from the Dutch. The islands became the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curaçao in particulasr was hard hit by the abolition of slavery (1863). Curaçao became prosperous in the early-20th century when refieries were built there to service the oil discovered in Venezuela. Oil companies were reluctant to build the refineries in Venezuela. Since World II, new tourist and banking industries have developed. The islands were earlier known as the Dutch West Indies (until 1954). Some of the individuals islands have seceded from the frderation and have moved toward independence. The population speak Dutch, Papiamento, and English.
Puerto Rico was one of the first Spanish colonies in the New World. The Spanish enslaved the Native American population they found on the island abnd through midstreatment they quickly died out. The Spanish than began importing Black Africans to work as slaves. Puerto Rico and Cuba were the last two Spanosh colonies. The United States liberated both islands in the Spanish American War (1898). Puerto Rico became an American Commonwealth. As a result, Puerto Rican has been influenced by both Spain And the United States which combined with the Caribbean climate are the principal fashion influences. We have at this time very limited information on Puerto Rico. These Puerto Rican brothers and their sister look to have been photographed during World War II. The clothes look rather American to HBC. Three of the children were reportedly named Josefina, Poldo, and Frank. Note that the boys wear long pants rather than knickers. Even though America was an important fashion influence, we believe that because of climate, knickers were not commonly worn in Puerto Rico. This looks to be an affluent family photographed in the garden of their home. The boys have rather modern looking suits while the gir has a rather 1930s looking dress. Our information on Puerto Rico is very limited.
We do not yet have a St. Kitts (Christopher) page. We do have a St. Kitts and Nevis history page.
We do not yet have a St. Lucia page. We do have a St. Lucia history page.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are one of the lesser known Caribbean island countries. It is locted in the outher portion of the the Lesser Antilles, one of the southerly placed Windward islands--od some imprtance in thage of sail. . The country is made up of Saint Vincent and most of the Grenadine Islands, a chin od ilnds nd cays stretching southward toward Grenada. Saint Vincent is situated netween the better known islnds of Saint Lucia (20 miles north, Barbados ( 100 miles east), and Grenada (85 mmiles south) with the Grenadines in between. There are 32 remote islands and cays. The islands have all the other small Caribbean countries have to offer, but with less tourist bussle. There are beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, emerald hills, and charming harbors. St. Vincent is the largest most populated island. The capital city and major port is Kingstown along yhe southern coast of Saint Vincent. Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, and Mustique are some of the major islands in the Grenadines. Tobago Cays, east of Mayreau are maintained as wildlife reserve. The southern-most Grenmadines are part of Grenada. St Vincent was largely ignored in the ealy colonial period. Columbus viaited (1498). The Spanish claimed it, but did not develop it. Which mean tht unlike the Dutch, Ebhlkish, and French islnd there was no sugar plantations and the Amer-Undian population was left alone except for occasional slave raids. This changed with the Seven Years/French and Induin War and the Trearty of Paris (1763). Britain wa granted possession and after a brief period the Aer-Ondin were deported. Sugar cane devedlopment began and cptive Africans imported to work as slaves on the sugar plantations under brutal conditions. The island thus began the sad pattern of other Caribbean islands, although over a much shorter time frame. Britatin using the Royal Navy begn to supress the skve trde (1807) and emansipated the alaves (1835). Britain granted independencec (1981). This was somewhat kater yjan oher countries, primsrily because the islsnders id not push for it as aggressivly as mny oher countries.
We have begun to build some basic information about Trinidad-Tabago. The larger island, Trinidad, is the largest island of the Lesser Antiles. It is located just off the eastern coast of Venezuela. We have a page on Tridadian history. Unfortunaterly Trnindad readers have not yet provided us information on their country. As part of the British Empire, slaves were emancipated (1830s). The did not prosper and most of the liberated slaves lived in poverty. The native American population perished in the early colonial period. Much of the population is decended from Aftican slaves. There is also a small populstion of Asians imported as indentured laborers. The discovery of oil has provided funds for economic development. An English reader provides us some information during the 1960s. He writes, "... my little brother had a friend from Trinadad at his school. He was born there and had a brother. I normally only saw the Trinadian brothers in school uniform or playclothes like ours but in the Summer holidays they'd be playing cricket in the park with their Dad and then they's be wearing! really brightly coloured shirts with exotic patterns on them (the Dad too!) which were probably from Trinadad as you rarely saw such bright and exotic shirts for sale in England back then. We visited Trinidad in 2000 and saw the children mostly wearing school uniforms. After school, however, we did not see a lot of exotic pattern shirts. As far as we could tell, Trnidadian children had for the most part adopted standard American casual wear.
The Virgin Islands are small islands located in the north of the Lesser Antilles, at the northeastern corner of the Caribbean island arc. They are some of the eastern or Leeward Islands. The Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States. The major islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. The Virgin Passage separates the U.S. Virgin Islands from the "Passage Islands" or sometimes called the Spanish Virgin Islands (Vieques and Culebra). They are also U.S. territory but part of Puerto Rico. The location along the Anegada Passage means that they border a key shipping lane leadig to and from the Panama Canal. Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas is one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean. Native American residents of the Virgin Islands included the Ciboney, Arawaks, and Caribs. Columbus sighted the Islands and was impressed with their beauty (1493). He named them the Virgins in honor of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. The Native Americans cntibued to inhabit the Islands through much of the 16th century. Europeans reported the presene of Native Americans as late as 1585, but the islands were eventually abanonded. It is unclear just why, Slave raiders from nearby Puerto Rico may have been the reason. The French next acquired the Islands, but the Danish West Indian Company purchased St. Croix from the French (1733). The three islands became known as the Danish West Indies. The Virgin Islands archipelago were divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish (17th century). Sugarcane becane the main crop produced by slave labor The United States purchased the Danish Virgin Islands during World War I (1917). The primary interest was the defense of the Panama Canal and the possibility that Germny might invade Denmark or otherwise acquire the islands. The Danes insisted on payment in gold. The Danish West Indies thus became the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Islands have developed an economy based primarily on tourism. The Islands are seen as vacation paradises with beautuful white sand beaches and crystal clear water. Deep-sea fishing is a popular attraction.
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