History

Jamaica was initially inhabited by Arawaks prior to the arrival of Columbus in 1494. Columbus claimed the land in the name of Spain, but it was never fully colonized until after Columbus' death. Under colonization, the Arawak communities quickly disappeared.

Spain found the lack of gold on the island unhelpful to their conquests, so they used Jamaica as a base supporting their strategies in the Americas. By 1655, the British controlled the island and began importing slaves from Africa to be used on the sugar plantations. The slave trade and system came to define much of Jamaican history and culture to this day. As sugar lost its economic strength at the end of the 18th century, however, the slave trade began to likewise dwindle.

Political independence was granted in 1962, when Jamaica rejected through referendum membership in the Federation of the West Indies; however, it still recognizes the Sovereign power of the British royal family as it operates under the Commonwealth Realm.
   

                                                 Back

Updated: 30 April 2008