A Brief History of the Caribbean

by D.H. Figueredo

A Brief History of the Caribbean is an overview of the historical events that have taken place and shaped the islands of the Caribbean Sea - beginning with an account of the indigenous populations before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and ending with the major political and economic developments in early 2007 in Aruba, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, among others.The historical perspective is enriched by allusions to the culture, manners, and morals of particular periods, often highlighting the connection between literary activities and politics, such as the Negritude Movement, and literary figures and politicians, such as Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic. Complementing the narrative are sidebars with important and unusual information on topics such as women pirates, meals eaten by slaves, and the cultural preference for strong leaders in the region. The authors attempt to give readers a multicultural perspective that will allow them to understand events from both an insider's and an outsider's viewpoints.

Genres: History

310 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2007

Reviews

[Shu Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read to page 110 on this and then moved one, not because I didn't want to finish the book, but because I needed to keep reading the historical era relevant to my research.

This was a difficult book to read. The history of this area is brutal and I find myself wanting to go back to reading the flora and fauna books I started with, but, that's not what we're doing. It is well written and one of the easier texts to follow for historical events. The organization is helpful and I did not find myself glazing over because it was just names and dates. Wishing more histories were this well written.

I also appreciate that the book is written by research experts from the research and not outsiders. There was a different feel in this text versus others I've read that has complete outsider perspective.

I recommend.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the European nations did to the Caribbean is shocking and sad. So much of the generational wealth is on the backs of slaves. This book educated, shocked and amazed me. The revelation that the first sugar crop was heavily subsidized by the spanish all those years ago was astounding and still has repercussions today. A good read!

[Mary Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for my Caribbean cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel on the Carnival Magic. It was full of facts and history and pretty interesting.

[Daniel Osterberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much happened during this time period that has shaped the world and the Americas today that I had no idea about. Was really good to read about.

[Linda Ahern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read, good flow. Prepared me well for my trip to Puerto Rico