History

The history of the early settlement of Barbados points to settlement sometime around 1623 B.C. at the site of Port St. Charles. The first indigenous peoples to settle in Barbados were Ameridians who arrived here from Venezuela. The Arawaks were an agricultural people and grew cottn, cassava, corn, peanuts, guavas and papaya.

In 1200, the Arawaks were conquored by the Caribs. The Caribs were a stronger tribe than the Arawaks and also cannibals. It is reported that Caribs ate an entire French crew in 1596.

The Portuguese then came to Barbados en route to Brazil. It was at this time the island was name Los Barbados (bearded-ones) by the Portuguese explorer Pedro e Campos. It was named after the island's fig trees, which have a beard-like appearance.

In 1625, English colonists landed on the island and by 1639, the colonists established a House of Assembly - the third ever Parliamentary Democracy in the world. The Barbadians dominated the sugar cane industry for decades during this centry until natural disasters slowed this industry. Slavery was abolished in 1834, and in 1966, Barbados gained full independence from the British. It maintains ties to the British monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth. The first leader of Barbados as a free nation was the Right Honourable Errol Walton Barrow.

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Updated: 15 February 2008

(Source: http://www.barbados.org/)