For centuries, Jamaica has welcomed settlers from all around the world. This small island has played host to the Amerindians who discovered it, to Europeans who fought to own it, to Africans forced to call it home and to Asians, Indians and Middle Easterners searching for a better life. Each group carried with it a story and tradition, throwing everything into Jamaica 's melting pot. After centuries of brewing, all have blended together to give the island its rich history and heritage -an international smorgasbord of legends, cultures and customs, all displayed right here against the background of Jamaica 's beautiful mountains and valleys.
Jamaica 's first inhabitants were the Tainos, an Arawak-speaking people, believed to be originally from South America . The Tainos called the island "Xaymaca" meaning "land of wood and water". These peaceful, seafaring people greeted Columbus when he first visited the island in 1494.
Columbus described Jamaica as "the fairest isle mine ever eyes beheld." His arrival marked the beginning of five hundred years of European occupation and governance. Initially, the Spanish settled near St. Ann 's Bay at Sevilla Nueva (New Seville), but eventually moved to Villa de la Vega, "the city on the plains", now called Spanish Town . Their new city swiftly flourished, becoming the island's centre of activity.
During the 1650s, the British captured Jamaica from the Spanish. In a last ditch attempt at defiance, the Spanish settlers freed and armed their slaves, who sought refuge in the island's interior. The Maroons, as these ex-slaves came to be called, continuously defied the island's new colonizers. The only army ever to defeat the mighty British, the Maroons still exist in modern day Jamaica .
The city of Port Royal became the centre of commerce during the 17 th century as it was the a perfect natural harbour in proximity to trade routes and an ideal market place for Spanish loot. Regarded as the "richest and wickedest city of the world" Port Royal was the popular gathering place for the pirates and buccaneers to spend their treasures with much debauchery. The city was known for having one tavern for every 10 residents and rum ruled. On June 7, 1692 , a massive earthquake and tsunamis struck Port Royal and two thirds of the city sank below the sea claiming an estimated 2,000 lives.
Under British rule, Jamaica prospered as a busy and wealthy colony. By the 18th century, the island was “the jewel of the British Crown”, producing 22% of the world’s sugar on large, lucrative plantations. In time, anti-slavery sentiments grew strong in Europe, culminating in the Emancipation Act of 1834.
Eager to sever connections with the symbol of their enslavement, many labourers left the plantation, settling across the island. To provide an alternative, affordable work force, the planters recruited indentured workers from China and India . After their period of indenture, a lot of Chinese and Indians stayed in the island, adding to Jamaica 's eclectic mix of cultures.
After 1838, sugar productivity and profitability declined, forcing Jamaica to diversify its economy. Although crops such as bananas and coffee provided sound substitutes, other industries eventually became the driving force of Jamaica 's economy, outgrowing agricultural exports.
Like the changing economy, Jamaican politics also transformed with the end of slavery. In 1866, the island implemented the crown colony system of government. Under this new system promises of education, health care and other social reforms gave hope to a newly freed generation. But decades later, social disappointment festered, leading to a spate of incidents of civil unrests, and heralding the birth of the trade union movement.
Out of these disturbances arose Jamaica 's foremost labour organizations and political parties. Norman Manley's People's National Party and Alexander Bustamante's Jamaica Labour Party would go on to dominate Jamaica 's political scene into the 21st century and become the architects of a new nation.
|
