INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ Podpora rozvoje cizích jazyků pro Evropu 21. stol. Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky.

The West Indies a large group of islands - over 3,000 individual islands and reefs separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean Today the West Indies are better known as the Caribbean three main island groups: Bahamas (north) Greater Antilles (central) Lesser Antilles (southeast)

Why Indies? Columbus called these islands the Indies - - he thought he reached Asia Spanish renamed them the West Indies, - - to distinguish them from the Spice Islands in the Pacific Ocean, (the East Indies) which we now call Indonesia.

History Indians from Central America migrated to the West Indies since 5000 B.C. Europeans arrived at the end of the 15th century. first explorer was Christopher Columbus in 1492 Spain began colonization in the 1500's, sugarcane plantations, Indian population enslaved for labor Indians soon died out, importing slaves from Africa

the 1600's British, Dutch, and French colonies were established - rivalry Piracy – on islands bases from which they preyed on treasure ships carrying gold and silver from the New World to Spain

Blackbeard most infamous pirate who ever lived born in England - Bristol around the year 1680 served as a privateer inflicting heavy damage on Spanish shipping when prohibitted, took to piracy In 1718 left to raid the coastal towns of Virginia and the Carolinas The governor of Virginia put a price on Blackbeard's head, captured

the 19th century, Great Britain dominant power in the West Indies Cuba and Puerto Rico (Spanish colonies) ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War Cuba was granted independence in 1902 Several British colonies were given their independence in the 20th century

The United States intervened in the affairs of West Indian nations to maintain peace in the Caribbean American forces occupied Haiti, 1915–34, the Dominican Republic, 1916–24, and Grenada

1. The Bahamas consist of 700 islands Capital: Nassau - one of the most popular tourist spots people: cca 300,000, most of West African descent abolition of slavery, life changed drastically. The plantations dissolved, people turned to the sea (sponging and fishing) or tried to farm. lack of fertile cropland

Religion is an integral part of Bahamian life. Every village has a church. the new industry of tourism - the beauty and life of the islands

2. The Greater Antilles include the island Cuba, Haiti and Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico these islands are close to Mexico, South America and Florida Sharks, Turtles and Whales are found in the water of this small island

The Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana (the largest city in Cuba) Population: 11 million people, mainly Spanish and African origins Language: Spanish Totalitarian communist state controlled by General Raul Castro who replaced his brother Fidel Castro as president of Cuba in 2008 Agriculture: sugar, citrus, tropical fruits, tobacco, coffee, rice, beans, meat, vegetables a highly militarized society

last major Spanish colony to gain independence The Spanish-American War – 1895 Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule, Americans wanted to help 1898 Cuba - a Spanish colony, sugar and tobacco plantations, ship Maine – blown to pieces Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (1898), Spain loses their colonies in Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States

Aftermath of Spanish – American War Cuba - after war independent country BUT! the Platt Amendment: USA could control Cuba whenever it felt Americans interests were in danger

Economy Sugar, the highlight of the economy, undergoes troubled times 1989 production was more than 8 mil. tons in 2005 it was only 1.3 million tons half of the sugar mills were closed, 100,000 workers were laid off, government promised them to be "retrained" in other fields, but no new jobs available in Cuba's stagnant economy

Tourism = "heart of the economy” workers in Cuba's tourist sector prohibited from accepting gifts, tips, or even food from foreigners 2004 the government mandated that U.S. dollars be exchanged for "convertible pesos"- a local currency that can be used only in special shops on the island - for a 10% charge affects Cubans who receive remittances from relatives in the U.S.

Jamaica One of the largest island in the Caribbean mountainous in the interior with a peak in the Blue Mountains of 7,402 feet Population: 2.8 million people The capital: Kingston Official language: English Remains a part of Commonwealth with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State

History of Jamaica Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494 The English seized the island in 1655 the Jamaican Maroons – run-away slaves Was one of the world's leading sugar- exporting and slave-dependent nations abolition of the slave trade – import of Indian and Chinese workers

Jamaican creole an English–African language spoken primarily in Jamaica the language developed in the 17th century, slaves from Africa learned dialectal forms of English spoken by their masters exists mostly as a spoken language pronunciation and vocabulary very different from English similarities to the pidgin languages of West Africa due to their common descent

Famous Jamaicans Bob Marley (1945 – 1981) A singer, performer of reggae music Claude McKay (1889 – 1948) writer and poet, involved in the Harlem Renaissance, also wrote in his native dialect

Haiti One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world the first black-led republic in the world Population: 9 mil., 95% black Capital: Port-au-Prince Official languages: Haitian Creole and French terrain consists mainly of rugged mountains

Disaster in Haiti disasters include hurricanes and storms In Jan a massive earthquake struck Haiti thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go or waiting for treatment Czech charities involved too

The Lesser Antilles are islands to the southeast divided into two 2 groups 1. the Leeward Islands - westerly from Guadeloupe to the Virgin Islands 2. Windward Islands - from Dominica to Grenada

INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky. Tato výuková prezentace byla pořízena z finančních prostředků hrazených Evropským sociálním fondem a rozpočtem České republiky.