The West Indies got their generalized name as a result of a mistake made by European sailors who first saw the shores of new lands. Europeans mistook the newly discovered lands for the India they had been looking for.
origin of name
West Indies literally translates to West Indies. The Caribbean islands got this name due to the fact that European sailors took the new islands for India, although they moved west from Europe.
However, the historical development of the term was not as simple as it might seem. Since several countries colonized the region, the term used was not always the same. By the time the colonization of land was largely completed, it was already possible to speak of the existence of several West Indies: British, French, Spanish.
West Indies Geography
From a climatic point of view, all islands are localized in one zone. The islands of the West Indies are located in the Gulf of Mexico between North and South America. Despite the fact that there are sources in which the region belongs to North America, most researchers tend to attribute it to South America.
The region is limited to 10 ° and 28 ° north latitude and 59 ° and 85 ° west longitude. Thus, all the islands lie in the Northern and Western hemispheres and are much closer to the coast of South America than to the coast of the North.
The Caribbean Sea is characterized by a large number of islands, many of which are united in large groups, such as the Small and Large Antilles, as well as the Bahamas and Virgin. There are also many fairly large islands, such as Cuba and Jamaica, Haiti.
Climate of the islands
The islands of the West Indies are in close proximity to the equator, which means that their climate is fairly even, with not too pronounced change of seasons.
The hottest and wettest time of the year in this region is considered to be spring, which begins in May and lasts until the beginning of June, when very hot and dry summers begin, characterized by little rain and a lot of sunny days.
Throughout the year on the territory of the islands of the West Indies, constant winds can be observed, which, however, do not relieve moisture, which contributes to the development of epidemics of various tropical diseases such as yellow fever. Dry air is observed only in the mountains, which makes the highlands more suitable for a healthy vacation.
From one group of islands to another, the humidity during the year may vary slightly. For example, in the Greater Antilles most rain falls in July, while in the Lesser Islands - in August and October.
Flora and fauna of the islands
The islands of the Caribbean Sea are covered with lush vegetation characteristic of the South American continent. Tropical forests grow along the coast; spacious meadows spread in the interior of the islands.
The islands' flora was greatly influenced by the colonization of local flora by European fruit trees, which began to be cultivated on the territory of these lands on an industrial scale.
In general, imported plants are of great importance for the local economy. For example, a coffee tree imported from Arabia provides a significant share of local exports, along with sugar and cocoa. Of great importance to local residents is the cultivation of tobacco, cotton, breadfruit and corn, which is a traditional crop in South America. Coconut palm, vanilla and agave are also important, from which a wide range of products are obtained.
The wildlife of the countries and islands of the West Indies is very diverse, but it has also been significantly affected by imported species. On the islands there are monkeys, parrots, scorpions and wild horses. Cattle imported from Europe are crucial for food security in a not-so-rich region.
Colonial history of the region
On the islands of the West Indies, states as independent units of international law began to appear as far back as the XlX century as a result of the struggle of local colonies for independence from the mother countries.
The decolonization process is of great importance for the subjectivity of local residents, because for many centuries the indigenous population has been subjected to significant pressure from the European colonialists. Also important was the process of importing slaves from the African continent to work on coffee and cotton plantations.
The first independent state of the West Indies was the Republic of Haiti, which achieved independence from France in 1804. However, the republic received international recognition only in 1825. However, it was she who at the end of the nineteenth century was the only sovereign state of the Caribbean, while all the other islands were Spanish colonies.
Modern Political Map
There are thirty sovereign and dependent states on the islands. Many territories, although they have considerable autonomy and the possibility of self-government, are formally dependent on European states such as France, Holland and the United Kingdom, as well as the United States.
The list of West Indies sovereign states is as follows:
- Cuba.
- Dominican Republic.
- Haiti.
- Jamaica.
- Bahamas
- Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Antigua and Barbuda.
- Dominica.
- Saint Lucia.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
- Grenada.
- Barbados
- Trinidad and Tobago.
- Partly Venezuela.
The largest island of the West Indies is Cuba, whose territory is completely occupied by the Republic of Cuba, proclaimed in 1959.
Republic of Cuba
Cuba is the largest state in the region with a unique and inimitable history, which is also based on the struggle for independence from Spain. The island gained sovereignty in 1898 as a result of the war between the USA and Spain. This sovereignty, however, was incomplete and implied a certain dependence on the United States who won the war, who, according to the new Cuban constitution, had the right to introduce troops into the territory of the young republic if necessary.
A long period of internal political instability, dependence on American intelligence services and the economic exploitation of the local population and the island’s natural wealth led to the socialist revolution in Cuba in 1959, actively supported by the USSR. However, such an outcome led to the continued isolation of the island from its closest neighbors and a long confrontation with the United States, which has not fully ended to this day.
Republic of Haiti
The island was discovered by Columbus in 1492 and was named Espanyola. Immediately after the discovery, the Spaniards began active exploration of the island, who began to establish colonies there, to mine gold and exploit the local population, which resisted and even destroyed one of the Spanish settlements.
However, the Spaniards' interest in the island did not last long, and already in 1520 the colonialists turned their attention to more profitable colonies in Mexico and South America. Subsequently, the island became the scene of the struggle between the Spaniards and the French, who eventually won.
However, in 1804, black slaves, many of whom were imported from Africa, raised a rebellion, which the French were not able to crush. As a result, an independent state was created, recognized by France only in 1825. The legends of the islands of the West Indies contain numerous stories about missing settlers, sources of eternal life and the golden cities that the Spaniards have unsuccessfully searched for for centuries in all their colonies - from North America to the Amazon forests.