History Of Jamaica

In order to provide that succinct story of the history of the Jamaica, it will be divided into four categories namely Pre- Columbian, Spanish, English and Independence. If you are sick and tired of reading those long accounts of what actually happened in the yesteryears of a particular country, then this will clean those wrinkles on your foreheads. Read on and gain knowledge.

Pre- Columbian is a period in the history of Jamaica that represents the time where it was inhabited by the Arawaks or Tainos from South America. It has been said that they were virtually annihilated prior to the settlement of the Europeans. When the Arawaks or Tainos were being carefully studied, it was found out that they are completely different from each other.

They were known to have a very sophisticated and structured ruling system. They had a chief or what they call as “cacique” who is supported by a group of elites. The place was also divided into several districts. It even reached to a point where there were regional chiefdoms, little less than kingdoms governed by kings.

Spanish is a period in the history of Jamaica that represents the dawn of tremendous changes in the lifestyle of the Arawaks or Tainos. It was because they were forced to slavery. When Christopher Columbus had his fourth voyage to the New World, he rested near a Maima village that belonged to the Arawaks or Tainos. He did such since his fleet of ships was almost wrecked. Also, he stayed there for a year before he returned back to Spain. It became very productive since the natives became subject to him.

Diego, the son of Christopher Columbus was appointed governor of the Indies where he later selected Juan de Esquivel as the one to oversee Jamaica. Sevilla was the name of the first Spanish settlement which was built in 1510. A fortified castle, citadel and Catholic Church were the landmarks that they built. By 1524, it was abandoned since Villa dela Vega was also being founded and they believed that it was unhealthy.

English is a period in the history of Jamaica that represents the Spaniards being driven away by Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables. A person named Cromwell issued a notable proclamation which allowed British citizens to inhabit the place. By 1656, there were more than a thousand immigrants that arrived in Port Morant.

Even if the Spaniards were already out of the island, they never gave up hope in recapturing it. In 1658, another force of their kind landed but they were defeated at the battle in Rio Nuevo. After such, there total prosperity as the English began to rule. Buccaneers brought great treasures who mainly worked in Port Royal. They plundered Spanish ships that transported gold and silver from South America.

Independence is the period in the history of Jamaica that represents the epoch where there was rampant depression in its economic status. There was a constant decline in the social conditions to the point where there were upheavals that resulted in bloody disputes.

It was in the person of Alexander Bustamante who became a leader of a labor movement that was later associated with the Jamaican Labor Party. In 1938, Norman Manley, formed the People’s National Party where he led to self- governance and Bustamante then became the first ever Prime Minister of a freed country.