Blog Post #6 "Getting to know your island"

                                               Jamaica 

 The indigenous tribe of Jamaica , the Tainos Tribe seem to have named the island "XAYMACA" , a word that probably meant "land of springs " . Jamaica has numerous flowing rivers .  The word 'Jamaica' seems to be a corruption of this original Taino name , which has survived European conquest and colonization . 

Map of the Island of Jamaica , 1873 (sources)

Here are some of the Key Facts about Jamaica 

    Area 

.      Jamaica is about 4,2436.6 square miles ( 10,991 square km) . 

    Population 

.     It has a population of  approximately 2.527 million .

    Capital 

.    Kingston ( population 691,600).

    Language  

.  English is the official language . In addition , they also have a dialect that is based on English and also spoken by the majority of the population .

 

Self Guide : I know this is a blog post but for the case of my research projects, I would like to give a brief summary on those topics .  I chose this topic because unlike my previous blog posts , this topic helps me to understand the culture , the way of their people and every other important detail about the Island. 

  

  

       Jamaican Culture 

      The national motto of Jamaica " Out of many , one people" has never been more true in any point in history than it is now . Almost every ideology and religion of people live somewhere on the island country . These people speak all the national languages of English , but there are several and different variations that can be found on the island . 

      

       Jamaicans are also very proud of their musical abilities . They have been known to have music stars such as Bob Marley , Ernie Smith and Peter Tosh , they were all born in Jamaica. Most of these people , with more planned in the future , are being aided by the Jamaica Cultural development Commission .Having been founded in the 1930s, the commission and the government have worked very hard to promote cultural expression and pride within the Jamaican Population .   

   

                         Bob Marley (sources)

Jamaican History 

     Based on the first paragraph , the history of Jamaica dates back to 1000 AD when a Taino tribe called the Arawaks crossed the Caribbean sea in canoes to settle on  the island . The Arawaks lived in simple villages , relying on fishing and hunting for substance . They lived here until Columbus landed at Discovery Bay 1494 . 

The Spanish attack on the Arawaks 

          The contact with the Spanish was very traumatic to the Arawaks. Within 70- 100 years of first contact, the entire Arawak's population was eliminated leaving only artifacts behind . With the natural inhabitants gone , the Spanish had control over the island . Since they had no rich gold sources , Jamaica was used as a base in which to launch attacks on the rest of the  Americas . 

The emergence of the new Jamaica country ( Independence day ) 

        It was a great rock in the middle of  the 80s , especially in Britain. The British brought in large numbers of slaves to the area , needing thousands of hands to work the newly developing sugar plantations . In a short time , Jamaica turned into the "jewels of the English crown ". Many port cities back in England that serviced trade to Jamaica , as well as the slave traders and plantation owners all prospered during this time . The capital city of Jamaica was moved to modern day Kingston in 1703 when Port Royal was burned down. 

        

        After a while ( 1838 - 1962 ) , The tension between the plantation owners and the representatives from England began to grow . Several riots broke out and many plantations struggled to pay the wages of the workers . The riots continued until 1962 when Jamaica was granted political independence . A socialist government was soon elected , which led to immediate U.S. blockades. However , the 1980s began a period of a more conservative government for Jamaica . 

My Opinion

       In conclusion , Jamaica is a very interesting country . It has vivid and adventurous history from the Arawaks , to the Spanish and finally to the British . The history is full of conquest and prosperity to reform and richness . Jamaicans also enjoy a rich culture . Their talents in art and music are undeniable  . They take great pride in their total Jamaican culture. In my own opinion , living in Jamaica would be a joy for me . The people are friendly and there are numerous sports to partake in . I would enjoy experiencing all of the cultural stimulation that is present in Jamaica .

Sources 

1. Long, Edward, and Edward Long. The History of Jamaica. [Electronic Resource] : Reflections on Its Situation, Settlements, Inhabitants, Climate, Products, Commerce, Laws and Government. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=cat06559a&AN=ggc.9913743260002931&site=eds-live&scope=site.

2. http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2290794/images/o-BOB-MARLEY-facebook.jpg

3. Davis, Nick. Jamaica - Culture Smart! : The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. Kuperard, 2011. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=nlebk&AN=731755&site=eds-live&scope=site.

4.https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.vB2uzNIp4gyTj6y2wUz05AHaFW&pid=Api&P=0&w=243&h=176