Demographic diversity, not sugar, describes the Caribbean. Discuss.
The Caribbean and its people lack definition but bear a common historic background.
Quite often in geographical sense the Caribbean is defined as a group of islands in an archipelago stretching from the peninsular of Florida to the coast of South America. The geographical definition however is vain when the composition of the Caribbean is considered as it neglects the characteristics of the people and focuses on the makeup of countries. However, we are all aware the Caribbean is not just countries that lacks civilisation, thus is void but it is a contingent of islands and peoples that have undefinable traits. The historian acknowledges the fact that the definition of the Caribbean is non-existent.1 It is also true that no single island or country is known as the Caribbean and even the geographical definition is confusing. Some would, in their definition, include the peninsula of Florida and Central and South American Countries while others would ignore these countries in their definition of the geographical Caribbean. What then makes the Caribbean?
In 1492, the Caribbean as we it know became undefinable geographically and historically. This was the year Columbus received funding from Queen Isabella and King
Ferdinand of Spain to embark on the trip to the Indies. Originally the intention was to travel west to get to the east. Columbus received three ships and sailors and set sail towards the Indies. In august of 1492 he left Europe and was on the way to a discovery. In October of the aforesaid year, Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor aboard the Pinta (one of Columbus’ three ships) sighted land.
Upon landing Colombus called the island San Salvador. This was the first of Columbus’ new discoveries and the beginning of the end of the old Caribbean. Large scale exploration and colonisation began.2 Columbus in his colonisation changed the definition of the Caribbean. One would agree, that prior to Columbus’s intrusion the definition of the Caribbean would
Quite often in geographical sense the Caribbean is defined as a group of islands in an archipelago stretching from the peninsular of Florida to the coast of South America. The geographical definition however is vain when the composition of the Caribbean is considered as it neglects the characteristics of the people and focuses on the makeup of countries. However, we are all aware the Caribbean is not just countries that lacks civilisation, thus is void but it is a contingent of islands and peoples that have undefinable traits. The historian acknowledges the fact that the definition of the Caribbean is non-existent.1 It is also true that no single island or country is known as the Caribbean and even the geographical definition is confusing. Some would, in their definition, include the peninsula of Florida and Central and South American Countries while others would ignore these countries in their definition of the geographical Caribbean. What then makes the Caribbean?
In 1492, the Caribbean as we it know became undefinable geographically and historically. This was the year Columbus received funding from Queen Isabella and King
Ferdinand of Spain to embark on the trip to the Indies. Originally the intention was to travel west to get to the east. Columbus received three ships and sailors and set sail towards the Indies. In august of 1492 he left Europe and was on the way to a discovery. In October of the aforesaid year, Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor aboard the Pinta (one of Columbus’ three ships) sighted land.
Upon landing Colombus called the island San Salvador. This was the first of Columbus’ new discoveries and the beginning of the end of the old Caribbean. Large scale exploration and colonisation began.2 Columbus in his colonisation changed the definition of the Caribbean. One would agree, that prior to Columbus’s intrusion the definition of the Caribbean would
Bibliography: "Trinidad and Tobago - Ethnic Groups." Nationsencyclopedia.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 05 July 2013