| Jamaican music is ultimately influenced by the history | | | | island, bringing additional African slaves with them. |
| and culture of the people of Jamaica. The island has a | | | | Jamaica became a major Trans-Atlantic slave trade |
| rich and diverse history, and is the third largest island | | | | center, and was also heavily involved in sugarcane |
| in the Caribbean. It was originally populated by the | | | | production. Major slave uprisings occurred throughout |
| Arawak people, who were present when Columbus | | | | the period of British colonial rule. Concentrations of |
| arrived during his second voyage to the New World. | | | | free Black people established small encampments |
| In the years after Columbus's arrival, Spanish colonists | | | | throughout the island. They built towns and villages |
| began to make their way to the island. The Spanish | | | | and continued to establish a culture unique to the |
| brought African slaves. After the Spanish exit from | | | | island, influenced not only by their own history as |
| the island, populations of former slaves remained. | | | | slaves but also by the diverse ethnic and cultural |
| Later, the British would establish a colony on the | | | | roots of their African ancestors. |