Dr. NICHOLAS WATSON

 

The Caribbean – Its History, Geography and People    

 

adopted from: http://open.lib.umn.edu/worldgeography/chapter/5-4-the-caribbean/ 

 

The regions of Middle America and South America, including the Caribbean, follow similar colonial patterns of invasion, dominance, and development by outside European powers. The Caribbean Basin is often divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles (the bigger islands and the smaller islands, respectively). The Greater Antilles includes the four large islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles are in the eastern and southern region. The Bahamas are technically in the Atlantic Ocean, not in the Caribbean Sea, but they are usually associated with the Caribbean region and are often affiliated with the Lesser Antilles. Middle America can be divided into two geographic areas according to occupational activities and colonial dynamics. The rimland includes the Caribbean islands and the Caribbean coastal areas of Central America. The mainland includes the interior of Mexico and Central America.     

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READ THE FULL VERSION HERE: http://open.lib.umn.edu/worldgeography/chapter/5-4-the-caribbean/ 

 

Answer these practice questions:

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1. Which islands make up the Greater Antilles? Where are the Lesser Antilles?

2. Which European countries were the main colonizers of the Caribbean?

3. How is Cuba a good example of a rimland country?

4. Why does the United States still have an economic embargo against Cuba?

5. How is the political system in Cuba different from that of the United States?

6. Why is Puerto Rico a commonwealth of the United States?

7. How is Haiti different from its neighbor, the Dominican Republic?

8. What are the positive and negative perspectives on the Caribbean tourism industry?

9. Besides tourism, what other methods do people in the Caribbean islands use to generate wealth?

10. How do differences in musical styles tell a story of Caribbean culture?

 

Key Takeaways

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• Colonialism created a high level of ethnic, linguistic, and economic diversity in the Caribbean. The main shifts were the demise of indigenous groups and the introduction of African slaves. The African influence can be witnessed in the religions of Santeria in Cuba, Vodoo (Voodou) in Haiti, and Rasta in Jamaica.

• The Caribbean Basin faces many challenges, including natural elements such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. Economic conditions are often hampered by environmental degradation, corruption, organized crime, or the lack of employment opportunities.

• The Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro created a socialist state that nationalized foreign-owned assets and brought about a trade embargo by the United States. Cuba lost its aid from the Soviet Union after the USSR’s collapse in 1991 and has been increasing its focus on tourism and capitalistic reforms.

• Tourism can bring added economic income for an island country, but it also shifts to the service sector resources that are needed for infrastructure and services. A high percentage of tourism income goes to external corporations.

• The diversity of the Caribbean is evident in the wide range of musical types generated from the islands. Individual islands are known for certain types of music; salsa, reggae, and calypso are examples.