The Caribbean Basics about this General Area

Physical Geography Most of the area known as Caribe is located within the tropics. Can Anyone tell me the Degrees latitude that the tropics cover? 23.5*N through 23.5*S All land in the Caribe is made up of islands.

4 Major Island Groups Greater Antilles: -include Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos: -Include over 700 islands. Lesser Antilles: -From Greater Antilles down to South America. -They separate the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.

South America Coastal Islands: Trinidad, Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao.

Island Formations- Different physical forces shaped the islands. -Volcanic Islands: -Formed from volcanoes pushing up from under the sea. -Some of these volcanoes are still active.

-These volcanic islands have rich soil so they are good for farming. -All of the Greater Antilles and some of the Lesser Antilles are volcanic islands.

Coral Islands: -All are mostly flat land. -Mostly sandy, so there is poor agriculture. -All of the Bahamas are coral. -These islands are created by the remains of tiny sea plants and animals.

Climate in the Caribbean The climate on these islands is affected by the sea and wind. -Breezes blow cool water temperatures onto land. -The coastal area is more mild than the inland areas. -Even though this area is in the tropics, the temperature rarely reaches the 90’s.

The Ethnic Roots The original inhabitants were of 2 main groups. -Caribs: Warlike Cannibals

-Arawaks: Peaceful Indians that came from South America. Both of these groups were wiped out by disease, slavery, and warfare.

The Other People Africans: -Brought over by Europeans to work the plantations. -This group greatly influenced Caribbean culture.

Asians: -Brought over as laborers after the abolition of slavery. -Many were indentured servants. Do you know what an indentured servant is? Someone that agrees to work off the cost of transport after arrival in a new place. -These people came from China, India, and the Middle East.

Europeans: -Spanish- Large Group -Conquistadors were Spanish Conquerers. -They settled in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. -They greatly influenced culture.

-British: Controlled most of the Caribbean. -Bahamas, Jamaica, and much of the Lesser Antilles. -French: Controlled Haiti, Lesser Antilles Islands. -Dutch: Controlled Aruba, Curacao.

The United States: We controlled land that we won from Spain in wartimes such as Cuba and Puerto Rico. -We also have possessions in the Lesser Antilles such as the U.S. Virgin Islands.