Barbados History

Barbados is well-known for its British heritage. But when you take a closer look at Barbados history, you'll discover that there is more to it than meets the eye.

Some people claim that Barbados was most likely inhabited by Arawaks first. However, around 1627, or 1605 as believed by the local tradition, the English expedition who first settled on the island found it to be uninhabited. The British landed on what is known today as the Holetown. It then remained under British colony up until 1966, when it was granted its independence.

Spanish settlers were also a part of Barbados history. Their visit happened in 1492, but no settlements were ever established on the island. The Spanish named it Los Barbados to mean "the Bearded Ones", when they saw the island's fig trees.

The British settlers ruled over the island for a long time. According to Barbados history, they claimed it in behalf of King James I, and took it under their colony continuously from the time they discovered the island until it achieved independence.

Barbados history would tell us that the sugar industry controlled the island's economic growth until 1720. A number of displaced farmers then moved to South Carolina and the other parts of North America which are under British colony. Slave trade ended just before 1924, when the British Empire totally abolished slavery. Barbados population was reported as 182,000 in the 1907 Nuttall Encyclopedia.

The enslaved people from Ireland and Africa were the workers of those with British descent. These British merchants are the very people who controlled the island politically basically because voting had a high-income restriction. Thus, the democratic process only granted voice to about 30% of the population.

Around the 1930's, emancipated slaves and their descendants initiated a political rights movement. This led to the establishment of the Barbados Labour Party, or the Barbados Progressive League as called in Barbados history.

The quality of the people's lives in the island was severely affected because of the mass unemployment during The Great Depression that happened in Barbados history. The year 1942 marked the reduction on the income qualification.

Barbados was among the 10 members which comprised the West Indies Federation from the year 1958 until 1962. This organization was unsuccessful due to several factors. Errol Walton Barrow took Adam's seat as people's advocate, and he soon led the island to achieve its independence.

Barbados history is as interesting as its numerous scenic spots. And visiting Barbados is the only way that you can ultimately get a feel of how enticing the island really is.