600 AD- The Arawaks, the natives of Jamaica, settled on the island they call Xaymaca, "the land of wood and water". They are the inventors of the hammock.
History of Jamaica
Here is an overview of the history of the tropical island of Jamaica! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the rays of the sun as you look through the history of this colorful vacation island!
Jamaican Timeline
Did you know?
The Arawak houses could fit up to 100 people, whether they were circular or rectangular for people ranked higher in society.
1494- Christopher Columbus lands on Xaymaca on his second voyage. He is in search of gold.
Quiz
As a result of Columbus's arrival, what had happened to the Arawak population by 1531?
- Population increased
- Population decreased
- Population did not change
1655- The English went on an expedition to the Caribbean in attempts to capture Hispaniola (contains Haiti and Dominican Republic). After that failed, they decided to try to capture Jamaica. They were successful, since not many of the Spanish were not equipped.
1670- Jamaica is under English rule under the Treaty of Madrid.
1831- The Baptist War breaks out. Also known as the Christmas Rebellion, this is the most violent of the slave revolts that occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries (although this happened in the 19th century). These revolts are caused by ethnicity.
1865- As known as the Morant Bay Rebellion, 500 Africans marched to Morant Bay to demand authorities for social justice and equality.
Forum
What can a country learn from rebellions and wars?
After reading this, I hope you realize that Jamaica is so much more than a vacation paradise. There is so much history associated with the development in the nation whether it's wars, revolts, or freedom. So if you ever get to travel to a white sandy beach in Jamaica, don't forget how it came to be and all of the history with it.