1. The Caribbean Greater Antilles: The Big Islands
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic & Haiti)
All are in the north Caribbean and discovered by Columbus

2. Conquest
Tainos: original inhabitants of islands were almost extinguished within 50 years of conquest due to overwork, murder, suicide, and Spanish disease
Britain and France then competed with Spain for influence – France took Haiti and Britain took Jamaica
Cuba, Dominican, Puerto Rico share a common history and culture (Spanish)

3. Cuba The only non-mountainous island
Havana used to be the “Paris of the Caribbean” – now in shambles
Prior to Castro’s revolution, Cubans were Catholic – now: most are non-religious
Soviet Union provided $5 billion annually to Cuba – Cuba’s economy damaged greatly by Soviet collapse.
U.S embargo prevents American tourists from Cuba, but it is still popular for Europeans

4. Cuba
U.S. established a permanent base after Spanish-American war – now used for War on Terror prisoners
Castro considers deal to establish as illegitimate

5. Haiti
Spanish left western 1/3 of Hispaniola after gold and silver was discovered in Mexico
French took over area and enslaved the black majority
Haiti became the source of incalculable wealth due to sugar economy…
However, wealth was accumulated by hideous treatment of slaves….

6. Haiti
Slaves of Haiti became world history’s first and only successful slave uprising – ultimately even defeating Napoleon’s army
First independent black nation
History after that is less encouraging

7. Haiti
Religion: Voodoo (mixture of African tribal religion and Catholicism)
80% of population lives in extreme poverty
After corrupt elections in 2000, foreign aid was cut off
Highest HIV and tuberculosis rate in hemisphere (population is decreasing due to HIV)
99% deforestation – and rains have washed away most of the rest of the soil
Massive 2010 earthquake – 300,000+ dead