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The Caribbean: A History of the Region and Its Peoples
Combining fertile soils, vital trade routes, and a coveted strategic location, the islands and surrounding continental lowlands of the Caribbean were one of Europe’s earliest and most desirable colonial frontiers. The region was colonized over the course of five centuries by a revolving cast of Spanish, Dutch, French, and English forces, who imported first African slaves and later Asian indentured laborers to help realize the economic promise of sugar, coffee, and tobacco. The A History of the Region and Its Peoples offers an authoritative one-volume survey of this complex and fascinating region.
This groundbreaking work traces the Caribbean from its pre-Columbian state through European contact and colonialism to the rise of U.S. hegemony and the economic turbulence of the twenty-first century. The volume begins with a discussion of the region’s diverse geography and challenging ecology and features an in-depth look at the transatlantic slave trade, including slave culture, resistance, and ultimately emancipation. Later sections treat Caribbean nationalist movements for independence and struggles with dictatorship and socialism, along with intractable problems of poverty, economic stagnation, and migrancy.
Written by a distinguished group of contributors, The Caribbean is an accessible yet thorough introduction to the region’s tumultuous heritage which offers enough nuance to interest scholars across disciplines. In its breadth of coverage and depth of detail, it will be the definitive guide to the region for years to come.
This groundbreaking work traces the Caribbean from its pre-Columbian state through European contact and colonialism to the rise of U.S. hegemony and the economic turbulence of the twenty-first century. The volume begins with a discussion of the region’s diverse geography and challenging ecology and features an in-depth look at the transatlantic slave trade, including slave culture, resistance, and ultimately emancipation. Later sections treat Caribbean nationalist movements for independence and struggles with dictatorship and socialism, along with intractable problems of poverty, economic stagnation, and migrancy.
Written by a distinguished group of contributors, The Caribbean is an accessible yet thorough introduction to the region’s tumultuous heritage which offers enough nuance to interest scholars across disciplines. In its breadth of coverage and depth of detail, it will be the definitive guide to the region for years to come.
624 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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February 8, 2026yes, i have read 600 pages on Caribbean history because i was annoyed about no ebooks by writers from Aruba. this makes no sense, but i have never been a rational reader.
was it worth the investment? probably no. it’s 600 pages, after all!
a quick summary:
they lived a good life in their beautiful islands, then europeans came and killed them in one way or another. those who survived were turned into slaves and later mixed with slaves from africa. at some point they got their freedom, but is their life quality now better than before the europeans? for most of them -certainly not. not yet.
was it worth the investment? probably no. it’s 600 pages, after all!
a quick summary:
they lived a good life in their beautiful islands, then europeans came and killed them in one way or another. those who survived were turned into slaves and later mixed with slaves from africa. at some point they got their freedom, but is their life quality now better than before the europeans? for most of them -certainly not. not yet.
March 25, 2022
the textbook for my anthropology class anth 255: The Caribbean: History & Political Economy
a very complete history of the region that covers all aspects of society
a very complete history of the region that covers all aspects of society
April 17, 2016
An outstanding history of the Caribbean - best available!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews