The Caribbean

Period 8

Group 4

Location - Relative

Many countries lie in the middle of the Caribbean sea between the southeast and southern-central coast of the United States and the north-central and northeastern coast of South America.

It also includes Belize in Central America. It also includes Guyana, Suriname, and

French Guiana in South America.

Location - Exact

The Caribbean is located 5 to 27 North Latitude and 98 to 60 West Longitude

Place - Physical

- Lies between tropic of cancer and the equator.-The temperatures are in the 70’s all year round.-It has a diverse fauna and flora.-The seasons are determined by rainfall every year which is usually is an average of 80 inches.-There is a dry basin in western Hispaniola.

Place – Physical (Cont.)

-Inter-tropical convergencey zone (ITCZ): circulation of air masses, where converging trade winds forced upward therefore creating precipitation. It’s changing of location (north in the winter, south in the summer) changes rainfall patterns. - Hurricanes and high winds usually occur north of the equator (they sometimes can be 75 mph).- Rain Forest

Place - Human

- Caribbean English - Based religions off of Umbanda, Macuba, Candomble - Languages spoken: French, English, Spanish, and Dutch- Music: Reggae, calypso, meringue, and zouk- African Diaspora

Place – Human (Cont.)

- Maroon Societies - Voodoo (Voudon) in Haiti - Creolization- Ra Ra Music-Bob Marley (took a political stand)- Folk Music

Movement - People

Early reliance on importation of enslaved Africans to balance high mortality among indigenous peoples under European colonization caused people to move to the Caribbean.

Fertility decline: Cuba, Barbados have lowest RNI, which caused people to move to the nearby Caribbean

The Rise of HIV/AIDS: Important regional issue; 5% of Haitians, ages 15-49, infected; tourism and prostitution may play a role in transmission of the disease chased people away.

Caribbean people began emigrating to other Caribbean Islands, North America, and Europe in 1950s, mostly for jobs and economic opportunity, contributing to a Caribbean diaspora: the economic flight of Caribbean peoples across the globe.

A large number of deadly hurricanes cause people to emigrate from the Caribbean.

Movement – People (Cont.)

Economic problems in the Caribbean also pushed people to the United States.

Many Caribbean people are motivated to emigrate because of the success people find in circular migration.

After the slaves were freed in the Caribbean that sought for a large work force, which drew a large amount of Asian emigrants to the Caribbean.

More than 1/3 of the population in Suriname is Asian. In the Dominican Republic a large amount of Eastern Asian

immigrants started small businesses and became merchants. More than 10 million African slaves were forced to migrate to

the Caribbean. The use of Maroon societies allowed even more African

slaves to be transferred to the Caribbean.

Movement - Goods

New musical instruments were brought over by various foreign countries. Especially African Slaves.

Better tools for farming were transferred to the Caribbean. For example the plow.

Bicycle’s were brought to the Caribbean and are now one of the most common modes of transportation

Movement - Ideas

The language Papiamento was brought over by immigrants. What is known as Voodoo was brought to the Caribbean by

African slaves. Santeria, Obeah, and Shango mix African ideas with

Christianity. In Haiti they still speak French Creole, which was transferred

from French immigrants. The music styles reggae, were brought to the America’s by

various ethnic groups. Calypso, and meringue were also brought to the Americas rumba, and zouk were new ideas of music brought to the

Caribbean.

Interaction Between Humans & the Environment - Change - Mangrove swamps were cleared to make

beaches.- Island forests were replaced by landscape devotes to crops.- Several dams were built on islands to help supply water to people.- Built national parks to increase wildlife awareness.

Interaction Between Humans & the Environment - Adapt - Residents of Montserrat had to evacuate at

certain times due to volcanic activity.- Because soil easily eroded and didn't produce good harvests, they developed 2 new strategies

- Clear new land and abandon old land.- Conserve soil and maintain fertility.

- An abundant amount of rainfall and warm all year.

Interaction Between Humans & the Environment – Adapt (Cont.) - Savannas have fertile soil and are good for

farming.- Arid zones near mountains are mainly used for grazing.- Limestone’s base in Cuba results in fertile red clay soil.

Region - Physical

-Lesser Antilles- Virgin Islands to Trinidad.-Greater Antilles- Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico.-Rimlands- Belize, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana.-The Caribbean Sea- Sea by the Antillean Islands.-Tropical Savannas and Mangroves- are found throughout the Caribbean, savannas are fertile and easily adapt to agriculture, and the mangroves are a marine habitat and protect from the erosion of the coasts; which is important in islands

Region - Political

-Colonialism- Some islands have “mother nations” that have political and economic power-Neocolonialism- the United States has indirect economic and political power over weaker Caribbean countries after the Monroe Doctrine was issued. -Independence- many colonies in the Caribbean gained independence from their colonial power to establish their own democratic principles.-Dependency- territories are divided amongst their politics, for example, Puerto Rico

Region - Cultural

-Creolization- is the blending of African, European and some Amerindian cultural elements into a unique sociocultural system that is found in the Caribbean.-Plantation America- extends midway up the coast of Brazil through the Guianas and the Caribbean into Southeastern United States

Region - Economic

-Urbanization- 60% is urban-Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) - is a regional (Caribbean) trade organization that includes former English Colonies. -Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)- trade association that includes Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean (not Cuba). Cuba is a communistic society therefore we do not support them-American Backyard- the United States maintains a proprietary attitude toward the Caribbean, controlling the Caribbean through neocolonialism.-Isolated Proximity- Caribbean states and regions are positioned close to North America and is economically dependent upon that region. The isolation would hurt the economy without North America