Aka the West Indies

The Caribbean Comprised of more than 700 islands The islands and the surrounding coastal regions are included Some islands are their own independent nations (Cuba, Jamaica) Others technically belong to other countries and are dependent territories (Anguilla and Turks & Caicos are part of the UK, Aruba and Curacao belong to the Netherlands)

West Indies Sometimes the area is called ‘The West Indies’ Christopher Columbus thought he had landed near India, so he called it the West Indies. The East Indies are South Asia and Southeast Asia

Greater Antilles -Cuba -Puerto Rico -Jamaica -Cayman Islands -Haiti/ -Dominican Republic -94% of the land mass -90% of the population

Lesser Antilles U.S. Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Anguilla (UK) Antigua & Barbuda Saint Martin (France/Netherlands) Saint Barthelemy (France) Saint Kitts & Nevis Monserrat (UK) Guadeloupe (France)

Windward Islands Dominica Martinique (France) Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Grenada Barbados Trinidad and Tobago

Leeward Antilles Aruba Curacao Bonaire Some small Venezuelan islands

Where Does the Name Come From? The region takes its name from that of the Carib, a Native group who lived there at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Its Geography Some islands are very flat, example Aruba and the Bahamas Others have rugged towering mountain- ranges like the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, etc

Its Weather and Climate The region enjoys year- round sunshine It is divided into 'dry' and 'wet' seasons, with the last six months of the year being wetter than the first half Hurricane season lasts from June to November

What Languages Are Spoken There? Spanish (Cuba, Dom. Rep., Puerto Rico) English (Jamaica, Bahamas) French (Haiti, Martinique) Dutch (Aruba, Curacao) Haitian Creole Papiamento – a Spanish/Portuguese type of Creole, spoken in the Dutch Antilles

What are Patois and Creole? Patois: came from a mix of older English and West African languages Creole: came from a mix of old French with influences from Portuguese, Spanish, indigenous and West African languages. These languages emerged from contact between European settlers and African slaves

European Colonies

Native Inhabitants Humans migrated to the Caribbean region around 4,000 BCE from North and South America Native groups were called Arawak and Carib Each group settled on different islands in the Caribbean Fishermen, farmers, hunters

Columbus and his “New World” Christopher Columbus (from Spain) landed in San Salvador, Bahamas in 1492 Trying to find a western route from Europe to India Instead Columbus found the Caribbean Islands, a “New World” Established first European settlements on Hispaniola (island shared by Haiti and Dominican Republic)

Disease, Conquest, Gold News of Columbus’ “New World” reached Europe Britain, France and Netherlands set sail to claim territory in Caribbean Looking for gold to bring back to Europe, but found very little European explorers brought measles and smallpox, infected and killed many Caribbean natives

Pirates Pirates roamed Caribbean Sea, robbing European ships laden with gold or goods for trade Used numerous bays and channels of Bahamas as pirate bases One of the most famous pirates was Edward Teach “Blackbeard”

The Pirate City Port Royal, Jamaica was called “the wickedest city on Earth” Was once the richest city in the Caribbean Full of pirates, thieves and prostitutes In 1692 there was a strong earthquake and 2/3 of the city fell into the ocean

Caribbean Commodities European explorers came to Caribbean for exotic goods to sell in Europe Sugarcane “Brown Gold” Very valuable good to sell and trade around the world Tobacco Cattle Bananas

“Sugar-Coated” Slavery Sugar cane was cultivated on plantations in the Caribbean islands Slaves brought from Africa to Caribbean to work on plantations slave ships carried hundred in cramped and inhumane conditions Disease and death common during trip from Africa to Caribbean Estimated 10 million slaves brought to Caribbean

The Triangular Trade 1. Ships left Europe and first stopped in Africa Trade European weapons, liquor, metal and cloth for African slaves 2. Ships travelled to Caribbean Trade slaves for sugar, rum, salt, spices 3. Ships return to Europe Sell Caribbean goods in European markets

Slavery African slave population began to outnumber European and Native American Slave rebellions common Slave trade abolished in Caribbean Britain 1834 France 1838 Netherlands 1863 Spain 1880

Independence

Food Beans and rice Ackee & saltfish Jerk chicken Rotis Stewed goat Dishes with rice, plantains, beans, cassava, cilantro (coriander), bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut

Scuba Diving

The Great Blue Hole

Gondola ride over the jungle, St Lucia

St Lucia

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Havana, Cuba

Curacao

Dunn’s River Falls, Jamaica

Stingray City, Cayman Islands

Swim with dolphins in the Bahamas

Barbadoes

Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica

Pink Sands beach, Bahamas

El Yunque tropical rainforest, Puerto Rico

Explore the French and Dutch sides of St Martin

Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico