Jamaica: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
ElBortoTexas (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
ElBortoTexas (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
Line 12:
|currency=
}}
'''Jamaica''', officially the '''Republic of Jamaica''' is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean after Cuba and Hispaniola.
== History ==
=== Early history ===
Originally inhabited by the indigenous Arawak and Taíno peoples, the island came under Spanish rule following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. The Spanish called their colony Santiago, with it's capital in St. Jago de la Vega''.'' Most of the native peoples of Jamaica were killed by disease and by the harshness of early Spanish rule of the island. As a result the Spanish imported many slaves from Africa to work in the colony; many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote and easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, mixing with the remaining Taino; these communities became known as Maroons. In 1655 the English invaded the island and with the help of the Maroon community were able to conqueror the colony.
=== British rule ===
When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists fled, with the exception of Spanish Jews, who chose to remain in the island. Spanish slave holders freed their slaves before leaving Jamaica. Many slaves fled into the mountains, joining the already established maroon communities. In the late 1600's Jamaica and Port Royal in particular became a hub of Caribbean piracy until the English authorities clamped down on piracy which caused the hub of piracy moved eastward towards the Bahamas and the Florida Keys. Throughout the 1700's the British would fight with the Maroon community several times. Additionally the
=== Independence ===
{{Nations of the World}}
| |||