The
early inhabitants of Jamaica, prior to Christopher Columbus's contact
in 1494, were the Arawaks. A race of
agriculturists, they also made quality textiles and pottery.
Christopher Columbus named the island Santiago (Saint-James).
However, the name was never adopted, most likely because it was
boring in comparison with the original Arawak, name Xaymaca. The name
Jamaica is merely a corruption of Xaymaca.("A Brief History" n.d.)
The
Spanish
arrival
decimated the indigenous peoples. Large numbers of them were captured
and sent to Spain as slaves, others were used as slaves in Jamaica,
and many were killed by the Spaniards. By 1665 There were no Arawaks
left, but enslaved Africans were replacing them. In
1645 the British captured Jamaica from Spain, but the
former Spanish slaves refused to surrender and escaped to the
mountains, repelling all attempts to capture them. These escaped
slaves are the early ancestors of the Maroon people found in Jamaica
today. The name originates from the Spanish phrase cimarron, meaning
wild.("A Brief History" n.d.)
Spain formally ceded Jamaica
to Britain in 1670. The Royal Africa Company was formed 2 years later
and used Jamaica as its chief market. This led to the island becoming
a center for slave trading in the West Indies. Nonetheless, the
Maroons managed to successfully retain their freedom and, in 1740,
British authorities acknowledged their rights to freedom and
property.("A Brief History" n.d.)
Settlers, employing slave labor, developed cocoa, indigo, sugar and later coffee estates. By the time of the Napoleonic wars, Jamaica had become very prosperous exporting both sugar and coffee. However, after the wars ended sugar prices dropped, and the slave trade was abolished in 1807. Slaves were emancipated in 1834 and the plantations began employing indentured Indian and Chinese laborers. One of the reasons that Jamaican culture and food is so diverse is the slave trade. Jamaica has a heritage comprised of all different ethnic origins. In the second half of the 19th century the banana industry was established, on big estates and smallholdings. After a long history of ownership by colonial powers Jamaica eventually gained it's independence in 1962. At first with bauxite, a mineral readily available in Jamaica, in high demand, tourism flourishing and a revival in bananas Jamaica's economy prospered.("A Brief History" n.d.) However, due to the International Monetary Fund, Jamaica is now struggling to survive. The Jamaican people, so heavily reliant on agriculture in the past, now must rely on tourism. Most of the food is imported to the island even though there are many farmers capable of growing crops to sustain the country. After the Jamaican currency was devalued, thanks to the International Monetary Fund, farmers could no longer afford to compete with imports. Now the country exists in oxymoron, the lavish hotels exist beside heart breaking poverty. More can be learned about Jamaica's current situation in the incredibly moving film, Life and Debt.
Settlers, employing slave labor, developed cocoa, indigo, sugar and later coffee estates. By the time of the Napoleonic wars, Jamaica had become very prosperous exporting both sugar and coffee. However, after the wars ended sugar prices dropped, and the slave trade was abolished in 1807. Slaves were emancipated in 1834 and the plantations began employing indentured Indian and Chinese laborers. One of the reasons that Jamaican culture and food is so diverse is the slave trade. Jamaica has a heritage comprised of all different ethnic origins. In the second half of the 19th century the banana industry was established, on big estates and smallholdings. After a long history of ownership by colonial powers Jamaica eventually gained it's independence in 1962. At first with bauxite, a mineral readily available in Jamaica, in high demand, tourism flourishing and a revival in bananas Jamaica's economy prospered.("A Brief History" n.d.) However, due to the International Monetary Fund, Jamaica is now struggling to survive. The Jamaican people, so heavily reliant on agriculture in the past, now must rely on tourism. Most of the food is imported to the island even though there are many farmers capable of growing crops to sustain the country. After the Jamaican currency was devalued, thanks to the International Monetary Fund, farmers could no longer afford to compete with imports. Now the country exists in oxymoron, the lavish hotels exist beside heart breaking poverty. More can be learned about Jamaica's current situation in the incredibly moving film, Life and Debt.
Works Cited
"Brief History of Jamaica." Guide to the Countries of the World: Nations Online Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. <http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Jamaica-history.htm>.
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