| Today, Jamaica is one of most favorite | | | | bananas. |
| vacation destinations for many travelers. | | | | |
| Visitors are fascinated by the rich history, | | | | The Independence and Decolonization |
| unique culture and comfortable climate. A | | | | |
| brief visit to the history of Jamaica is | | | | The movement for independence was the |
| educational whether you plan to visit the | | | | reaction to the economic crisis spawned by |
| Island this year or in the future. | | | | the Great Depression. In 1938, two major |
| | | | political parties, and the labor unions |
| Arawaks Before the Arrival of Columbus | | | | affiliated to them combined efforts in |
| | | | fighting for political independence from |
| The history of Jamaica started long before | | | | England. By 1962, Jamaica was granted |
| the arrival of Columbus in 1494. Jamaica | | | | political independence. |
| island was inhabited by Arawaks for hundreds | | | | |
| of years or even more. They lived a simple | | | | Political Independence |
| life in small community based on fishing, | | | | |
| hunting, and small scale cultivation. The | | | | After the political independence, Jamaica was |
| arrival of Spanish led by Columbus opened the | | | | governed by a prime minister, who is required |
| door of the island to the world, but the | | | | to consult with the Governor General who was |
| economic activities also brought new diseases | | | | the representative of England. PNP and JLP |
| that destroyed native Arawaks small | | | | are two major political parties in Jamaica |
| communities in a few decades. The trace of | | | | today. The PNP, the held political office and |
| early Arawaks life, today, can only be seen | | | | initiated a shift in major economic policies |
| in a few artifacts-facts displayed at the | | | | between 1972 and 1980. From 1980 to 1989, the |
| small museum at White Marl. | | | | JLP held political office. With a special |
| | | | political relationship with the Reagan |
| The Spanish Occupation | | | | administration, Jamaica benefited from |
| | | | generous USA assistance in the first half of |
| Between 1494 and1655, the Spanish used | | | | the decade. The prosperity of Jamaica was |
| Jamaica as a springboard for the conquest of | | | | further fueled by the large volumes of |
| the Americas. The island was occupied by of | | | | emigrants started in the eighties also saw , |
| the Spanish settlement and their slaves. In | | | | primarily to the USA. |
| 1655, it was captured by the British | | | | |
| expedition led by Admirals Penn and Venables. | | | | Jamaica Today |
| The influence of the Spanish settlement on | | | | |
| the development of social, economic and | | | | The size of 4,000 sq miles makes Jamaica the |
| political life of the island was | | | | third largest island in the Caribbean. The |
| insignificant apart from remnants of | | | | capital of Jamaica Kingston is where most |
| buildings on the Island - Spanish colonial | | | | activities are centered. Jamaica, today, is |
| architectural styles, and names of places | | | | one of most popular travel destinations for |
| etc.. The island was not of significance for | | | | vacationers. People around the world flock to |
| Spanish at the time. | | | | Jamaica for its weather, culture and |
| | | | entertainment, or just to spend a weekend in |
| The Slave Economy | | | | luxury Jamaica Hotels. Jamaica is where you |
| | | | can enjoy the different styles of home life |
| A few years after capturing the island, the | | | | and you can help yourself to fruits from the |
| British imported African slaves on large | | | | trees in the countryside though the most |
| scale for sugar plantations. Unlike the | | | | important dinners are jerk chicken, and fish |
| occupation by the Spanish, Jamaica brought | | | | with coconut milk and spices. Almost |
| prosperity to the English plantation owners | | | | everybody in Jamaica speaks English . Driving |
| and many English cities. The plantation | | | | in Kingston is a challenge for new visitors |
| dominated economic, political and religious | | | | because there are no signs. With the |
| life on the Island. The laws supported the | | | | popularity of the Internet, a typical |
| slave system as well. In 1838, the slaves | | | | vacation plan to the Island of 2.7 million |
| were freed and the plantations started paying | | | | population starts with the search on the Web |
| wages to its workers. After Emancipation, | | | | to look for perfect Jamaica Hotels and |
| many of the ex-slaves settled down and | | | | Resorts. When you know the history of |
| cultivated as small farmers in the mountains. | | | | Jamaica, your visit to the Island will never |
| As the decline of sugar exportation, they | | | | be the same. |
| began the exports of logwood, coffee, and | | | | |