Mr.

Mark Lessons

Caribbean Studies Notes

Syllabus and Exam Format
Module 1
Caribbean Society and Culture
Module 2
Issues in Caribbean Development
Module 3
Investigating issues in Caribbean Research.

Exam Format

Paper 1
27% of Final Exam
1 hour 30 minutes (multiple choice) 45 questions

Paper 2
33% of Final Exam
3 hours 4 compulsory questions
TYPE 1 ESSAYS ARE 20 MARKS TYPE 2 ESSAYS ARE 30 MARKS
KNOWLEDGE= 6 KNOWLEDGE= 10
USE OF KNOWLEDGE=8 USE OF KNOWLEDGE= 12
ENQUIRY + COMMUNICATION=6 ENQUIRY + COMM= 8
Paper 3
I.A. – 40% of final exam
Must get 52 and over 52/60 TO GET A GRADE 1
Essay Writing Tips
1. Structure is key.
2. Introduction- state what you intend to do in the essay. Use ATTENTION
GETTERS: controversial quotes, definitions, statistics etc. Define key and
relevant terms and concepts. Get to the point quickly- be brief and concise,
there is no need for long historical build up.
3. Body – develop 3-4 points fully, supported by examples solely from the
Caribbean.
4. Conclusion- summarize your final analysis, weigh arguments and points
in terms of what was the most salient point and which points were lesser
factors. What is your information really saying?
5. Be concise and to the point- simplify your expressions. Watch your
handwriting.
6. Time Management- attempt the TWO 30 marks Questions first; leaving the
lower score questions for last. Do not exceed more than 40 minutes per
question.

M1: CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE

OUTLINE-
 Locate and define the Caribbean region( geographical, historical, geological, political,
diasporic)
 Analyse the impact of the historical experience- (European expansion, encomienda
system bondservants, Plantation slavery, indentureship)
 Analyse the characteristic features of Caribbean society(Plural society, Creole
society, Plantation society and economy)
 The process of identity and social formation( hybridization, Syncretism, dominant
culture, acculturation, subculture, racism, classism, pigmentology, cultural
retention, cultural renewal)
 Societal institutions and its impact( education, family, religion, social justice)
 Arts and popular culture and its impact on Caribbean society( Rastafarianism,
Voodun,Santeria, Myalism, Carnival, spiritual Baptist, cuisine, music-reggae, chutney,
punta)
 The Caribbean and the wider world( cultural imperialism, neo- colonialism,
Caribbean diaspora and its influence on the metropole)

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

1- Greater Antilles/Lesser Antilles/ABC islands/Netherland Antilles.
2- Mainland Caribbean- Belize, Suriname, Guyana and Cayenne(French Guiana)
3- Amerindians of the Caribbean- Kalinago, Taino, Ciboney/Lucayanos(found in
Bahamas)
4- Amerindians of the mainland- AZTECS(central Mexico), Mayans( Central America)
and INCAS(South America)
5- Asiento- license to trade with the Spanish empire
6- Treaty of Tordesellias- imaginary line of demarcation issued by Pope Alexander the
VI giving Spain all rights to the NEW WORLD with the exception of Brazil which went
to Portugal.
7- Genocide- killing of an entire people.
8- Protector of the Indians- Antonio Montesinos and Bartholomew De Las Casas
9- Infanticide- killing of infants
10- Miscegenation- mixing of races voluntarily or via rape
11- Mulatto- mix race between white/ black
12- Mestizo-mix race between Amerindian/white
13- Privateer- a sanctioned or license thief on the seas, carried letters of Marque.
14- Pirate- a thief for individual gain
15- Middle passage- journey from Africa to the new world
16- Triangular trade- trade in the 16th century that took place on 3 continents
17- Remittances- money sent by family from abroad to the Caribbean
18- Maroons- runaway slaves
19- Peasantry- small farmers
20- Proto-peasantry- term coined by Sidney Mintz to explain small farming during
slavery by slaves.
21- Political enfranchisement- the right to dictate one’s own affairs.
22- Westminster- Whitehall- British model of democracy(separation of powers)
23- FUNCTIONALISM- a conservative ideology that views everything as functional in
society, promotes the status quo.
24- MARXISM- a radical ideology that looks at conflict in society.
25- Diaspora- individuals who have left their original home and have established new
communities in another country.
Cultural terms and concepts
1- Pluralism- various /multiple cultures
2- Homogenous culture- one culture
3- Acculturation- belief that one’s culture is superior
4- Assimilation- gradual acceptance of a culture
5- Cultural retention- attempting to keep/ practice elements of your original culture.
6- Cultural Renewal- the fashioning of new cultures based on aspects of the old eg
Rastafarianism/ Garveyism, Black Power Movement
 7- Syncretic religion- merging/mixing of cultures/ religion eg shangoo Baptist, myalism,
rastafariansim, santeria
8- Dominant culture/ideal culture- culture viewed as the mainstream and politically
correct culture.
9- Subculture- culture of the minority group within society.
10- Hybridization- merging and mixing of cultures.
11- Creole- developed in the Caribbean can refer to language, whites born in the
Caribbean and to afros.
12- Matrifocal- female centered.
13- Patriarchal- male dominated.

Module 1
Caribbean Society and Culture
Caribbean history has a long and tumultuous colonial past. With its dominant
form of social and economic organisation, known as the plantation system. The
plantation during all its phases of existence relied on some form of forced,
cheap labour. This resulted in the destruction of the native population and the
eventual importation of various groups of people into the Caribbean to work
on these plantations. All these racial groups, especially those who entered by
force had to reconstruct elements of their culture in order to survive.
Colonialism created a culturally diverse region with various ethnic groups each
being brought to the Caribbean with its own cultural and religious practices.

carib map.webp
Locating and Defining the Caribbean.

Geographical Definition
The Caribbean is defined as that area which has its coastline washed by the
Caribbean Sea. This would mean that the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the
Cayman Islands and the islands of the Netherland Antilles all belong to the
Caribbean. By this definition, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda, Barbados and
the Bahamas would be excluded. The Caribbean would also include Belize,
Columbia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras and
exclude the mainland territories of Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles consists of the Island of Hispaniola, which is now Haiti and
the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. They are larger and
older than the Lesser Antilles.
Lesser Antilles
Winward Islands- Grenada, St Lucia, St. Vincent, Guadeloupe, Dominica,
Martinique.
Leeward Islands
Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Monserrat, Anguilla, Virgin Islands,
Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao (ABC islands), SABA- St.
Marteen, Saint Eustatius
Mainland Caribbean Territories- Suriname, Guyana, French Guyana (Cayenne)
and Belize.
MAINLAND AMERINDIANS AND LOCATION
Aztecs -Found in Central Mexico
Mayans -From Central America (MESO-AMERICA) example Honduras, Mexico,
Belize, Guatemala.
Incas – From South America, Chile, Peru, Argentina
Tainos (Arawaks)- from the Greater Antilles or Northern Caribbean.
Kalinago (Caribs)- from the Southern Caribbean and Lesser Antilles.

Lucaynos – From the Bahamas. The Bahamas was known as San Salvador.

Geological Definition
The Caribbean is seen as that area of the region defined by the Caribbean plate
and which therefore experiences the same tectonic, seismic and volcanic
periods and processes. The lands of the Caribbean are said to be formed from
earth movements called plate tectonics.
TYPES OF PLATES FOUND IN THE CARIBBEAN
THREE TYPES
Divergent Plate
These plates move away from each other creating sinkholes, causes
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Convergent Plate- these plates clash with each other creating volcanoes and
volcanic eruptions. E.g. Soufriere Hills, Monserrat.

Transformative/ Conservative Plate

These plates slide and glide alongside each other causing volcanoes, tsunamis,
floods and earthquakes. NB THE PUERTO RICO TRENCH.

There is a great variety of landforms in the Caribbean e.g. flat land, land below
sea level, mountain ranges and valleys. These landforms are the result of many
processes such as the erosion of plate tectonics and volcanic eruption.
The Greater Antilles is much older than the Lesser Antilles. Plate tectonics have
caused many mountain islands such as St. Vincent and Monserrat. These
islands are very mountainous with jagged coastlines and scenic beaches
containing black sand from volcanic eruptions.
Geological Features in the Caribbean.
 Mt. Soufriere in St. Vincent
 Soufriere Hills in Monserrat
 Soufriere in Dominica
 Pitch Lake in Trinidad
 Blue Mountains in Jamaica
 Green Grotto Caves in Jamaica.
 Hot Springs in St. Lucia
 Cockpit Country in Jamaica
 Gemstone Features in Barbados (Harrison Caves)
 Puerto Rico Trench – 8 miles deep
 The Great Barrier Reefs – the 2nd largest off the coast of Belize
 Andros reef in Bahamas.
 Kick-em Jenny- submarine volcano- off the coast of Grenada

Coral Reefs
There are three types of Coral Reefs:
1. Barrier
2. Atoll
3. Fringing
Reefs are important to mankind for several reasons:
1. The reef acts as a natural barrier, breaking the force of waves protecting
harbours and beaches.
2. Provides ideal environments for diving, snorkelling and photography.
Coral reefs play a pivotal role in the economy of Caribbean states as it is
a tourist attraction providing huge amounts of revenue.
3. It promotes biodiversity, habitats shelter and food for a variety of flora
and fauna.
4. It is used to provide medicinal remedies as research has shown.eg
cancer treatment.
 5. Reefs provided many spiritual and cultural uses to the Amerindians as
ornaments and tools.
Barrier Reefs
They are separated from the mainland by a deep channel of 100 feet or more.
They comprise of massive coral canyons, ridges and tunnels. E.g. barrier reef,
Belize, this is the second largest barrier reef in the world.
Atoll Reefs
These are roughly oval shaped and enclosed like a lagoon.

Fringing Reefs
These are very common in the Caribbean; they are connected to the island by
a very narrow stretch of sea. E.g. the Buccoo Reef of Tobago.

NATURAL DISASTERS/HAZARDS
A natural hazard is a potential threat of a naturally occurring event, whereas a
natural disaster would be the negative effects.
The Caribbean due to its geographical location, tropical climate is susceptible
to a number of natural disasters. Ultimately, this has severe economic, social
and environmental impact on Caribbean society and culture.
 Hurricanes- a large rotating storm that occurs normally between early
June to November.eg Ivan 2002, Irma 2017
 Flooding- an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.

 Earthquakes- a sudden and violent shake as a result of movements

within the earth’s crust. Eg. Haiti, 2010.
 Landslips (soil erosion) - the removal of topsoil from the land.
Deforestation, excessive mining and quarrying in countries such as
Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana have resulted in increased soil erosion.
 Volcanic eruptions- when lava and gas are discharged from a volcanic
vent.eg. Montserrat 1995.
 Droughts- a climatic condition where insufficient rainfall occurs over an
extended period.
IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS
SOCIAL ECONOMICAL POLITICAL
Loss of life Loss of agricultural Political instability and
crops chaos.
Social dislocation Price gouging (inflation)Crime, looting and
shooting.
Health and Sanitation is Destruction to the No confidence in
severely affected. manufacturing and elected individuals.
industrial sectors.
Stress, depression and Damage to the tourism Request for foreign aid,
suicide. sector. and dependency on
foreign aid.
Loss of historical and Rampant Sending of food from
cultural heritage sites. unemployment and the diasporic
poverty. community.
Humanitarian aid, role
of the RSS(Regional
Security Systems)
Outward migration. Infrastructural
damages- e.g. schools.
Potential spread of Effects on
diseases. transportation and
communication.
Sending of food from
the diasporic
community.
Humanitarian aid,
accessing of loans and
grants from
International Financial
Organisations.
MITIGATION STEPS TO LIMIT NATURAL DISASTER’S IMPACT
 The establishment of an environmental management authority in each
Caribbean territory.
 The establishment of an office of disaster preparedness and
management agency. Eg. The ODPM in Trinidad. These responder
agencies play a critical role. CDEMA( Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency) ensures regional support and the RSS(Regional
Security System)
 The creation of various laws, regulations and fines by governments. Eg.
building code laws, certification (C.E.C- Certificate of Environmental
Clearance)
 Conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (E.I.A) before any
construction of mega projects.
 Government initiated educational awareness programs- this can be done
via govt. programs, social media etc. eg. The DCH (Duck, cover and hold
on) approach to earthquakes.
 The establishing of muster points, conducting of emergency
preparedness drills in schools etc.
 Individual action- battening down of galvanize and windows before
storms, building homes on stills, best practices eg. Disbanding of the
slash and burn method as agricultural practices.

Historical Definition
This is the area colonised by the European powers (Spanish, British, French
and Dutch) and which has been deeply affected by that brand of European
colonialism.
Metropolitan- powerful countries who once owned and controlled other
countries or colonies. Another word for colonies is satellite. The Spanish
through the Encomienda system and the Repartimiento system exterminated
the original inhabiters, after only 70 years of contact with the first peoples.
When there were no more precious metals to be extracted, the Europeans
utilized the region to produce tropical fruits (cotton, cocoa, sugar, cotton,
sugar, coffee, tobacco). Consequently, the British, would introduce the
plantation system and sugar industry which would intern usher in the second
forced labour system (chattel slavery: enslavement of Africans). By the middle
of the 19th century, slavery became an expensive inconvenience and so the
third labour system was introduced- the Indentureship system.
The Indentureship system saw the introduction of the Syrians, Chinese, east
Indians, Lebanese and Portuguese. Thus, it has become common to identify
the Caribbean based on the shared experience of colonialism. Within this
historical context, has arisen a multiracial and diverse society, one in which
multilevel social stratification and racial hybridisation persists.

NB- Bondservants/ Engages- White European Labour was used shortly after
the Amerindians but they were too few and too familiar with the Masters. It
was the Roman Catholic Friars Antonio De Montesinos and Bartholomew De
Las Casas that promoted and encouraged the use of AFRICANS as Chattel
Slavery. They were later dubbed ‘the protectors of the Amerindians’.

Arrival of Various Groups in the Caribbean and Their Dates.

 Pre 1492- Amerindian settlement throughout the Americas.
 1494- Treaty of Tordesillas- this gave Spain all the rights to all
the new lands in the new world with the exception of Brazil
which went to Portugal.
 1512- The law of Burgos 1512- (there were laws made to lessen
the effects of the encomienda system.)
 1542- New laws which ended the encomienda system.
 1550- Total decimation of the indigenous population.
 1690- First arrival of African slaves.
 1807- Termination of the slave trade.
 1838- Arrival of Chinese indentured labourers.
 1838- End of slavery in the British West Indies.
 1845- Arrival of East Indians.
 1848- Arrival of Syrians, Portuguese, Madeirans, Lebanese.
 1930s- Social unrest and rise of the labour movement. This was
to be an important period that led to political enfranchisement.
MIDDLE PASSAGE
Journey from Africa to the new world.

Triangular Trade- also known as the transatlantic trade, (Europe, Africa and
the Americas). Asiento was a license granted by Spain that enabled her rivals
to trade in the Caribbean. Her rivals – British and Dutch.
Miscegenation- is sexual relations between racial groups; during the
encomienda system Conquistadors had sexual relations with many indigenous
women.
Mestizo- Amerindians and Europeans mixed offspring.
Mulatto- European and African offspring.
Dougla-East Indian and African offspring.

POLITICAL DEFINITION OF THE CARIBBEAN

There are three types of political systems that exist within the Caribbean.
 Independent States
 Associated States
 Colonial Dependencies/ Departments
Independent States Associated States Colonial Departments
Trinidad and Tobago, British Associated French Guadeloupe, St
Guyana (Republic) States or British Marten, Martinique.
Jamaica, Grenada, St Virgin Islands- Cayenne. Dutch
Lucia, Antigua & Anguilla, Cayman Suriname, Aruba Bonaire,
Barbuda, Barbados, St Islands and Curacao, Saba, St.
Vincent and the Monserrat. Maarten, St Eustatius.
Grenadines United States
associated states- US
 Virgin Islands, St
Thomas, St John, St
Croix, Puerto Rico.

In terms of political arrangements, the British W. I. still holds on to the British

traditional form of government based on the Westminster- Whitehall, model
of democracy. NB. The first past the post (e.g. Trinidad and Tobago) and
proportional representation system (Guyana).

Cuba has a communist system of government, where the state owns and
controls all the resources. There is are no elections in communist Cuba and so
Fidel Castro ruled Cuba for many decades until his death in 2016 and his
brother Raul Castro has been installed as president. In the 1960s and 1980s
attempts were made by other Caribbean countries to move towards
communism or socialism. It was attempted by Guyana, Grenada, Dominican
Republic and Jamaica. However, these attempts at communism were treated
harshly and severely by the US government and thus, any further attempt to
implement alternatives to democracy were abandoned. Haiti is the only
Caribbean country which fought and was successful in 1801, becoming the first
black republic.
N.B. though the Caribbean has gotten independence, the region is not totally
free. Oftentimes, the region must align its policies with the United States and
Britain (NEO-COLONIALISM).

Caribbean Diaspora
Diasporic Definition of the Caribbean

This is based on the movement, migration and settlement of people. It also

refers to the movement of people’s culture with them. When one speaks
about the Caribbean diaspora, it refers to the many Caribbean nationals who
have migrated to other parts of the world from time to time. The Caribbean is
a collection of identities from different parts of the world. There exist various
racial and ethnic groups that were all imported to provide some form of labour
on the plantations. By the 1900s there was a great deal of outward migration
as Caribbean people sought new opportunities and greener pastures abroad.
Where did they go?
1910- 1940 -they went to Central America to construct the Panama Canal and
railways in Costa Rica, Colombia and Honduras.
Early 1900- they went to work in Costa Rica and Honduras in the banana
plantations. Aruba and Curacao to work in the oil refineries and after world
war II (post 1945) they went to Britain and Europe to help rebuild. They were
known as the Windrush Generation and the ship they left on was called the
Windrush.

Impact of the Caribbean Diaspora on the Caribbean:

 Remittances
 US manufactured goods
 US entertainment products
Note: Barrel Children – get products from families abroad.
This has led to the Caribbean people developing US appetites and tastes.
Alternately, one must also look at the influence of the Caribbean diaspora
on the metropolitan countries. Example festivals such as Caribana (Canada),
Notting Hill Carnival (in the United Kingdom) and Labour Day Festival in
Miami. Popularisation of Reggae music and Rastafarianism, Caribbean food,
Crab and dumpling, Jamaican Jerk, Doubles etc.

THE HISTORICAL PROCESS

TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS
 11TH AND 12TH CENTURY saw the settlement of the Americas by the native
peoples or indigenous tribes. Migratory movements from Asia across the
Behring Strait into North America and then southward into central, South
America and the wider Caribbean. AZTECS, MAYANS AND INCA were
Mainland Amerindians. While the Tainos and Kalinagos were Amereindians of
the Caribbean.
 1492- 1550 European Expansion into the New World: colonies of exploitation
and colonies of settlement.
 Clash of cultures, the Encomienda system and the Genocide of the
Indigenous population.
 1610- 1834 Chattel Slavery- African Slavery, the Sugar Revolution and The
Plantation system.
 1838-1917- Indentureship of East Indians, Chinese, Syrians and Portuguese
into the Caribbean.
 1920s/30s- The era of Social Unrest, Nationalism and push towards Self
Governance.
 1950s/60s- Independence/Republicanism and Nationhood.

FOCUS- Indigenous population were not savages

rather they had their own way of life.
Economic- agrarian, practiced surplus and subsistence farming.
Utilized canoes to trade with various tribes.
They grew and cultivated many crops and had great irrigation
systems. Eg. Floating Chinampas, slash and burn, canoe trading
system.
Notable crops: cocoa, tobacco, maize, tomato, soursop,
cassava/manioc, pineapple, coffee.
Political- hierarchical, structured. Leaders chosen by bravery or by
hereditary. Ouboutu/ Halach Uinic chosen by strength and courage.
The Cacique chosen by bloodline. Complex social pyramid with
batababs, workers, officials and slaves.
Socio-cultural organisation- they were polytheistic/animist
(worshipped many gods of nature example chac, yumkaax,
quetzalcoatl), female and male oriented duties, social life,
bloodletting and human sacrifices, played ball games known as batey
or pok-a-tok.
 CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE
In order to understand Caribbean Society and culture one must first
develop working definitions for the two terms.

Society
This is the largest unit or group to which an individual belongs, simply put a
society is a collection of persons living in the same geographical area and to
which one feels a sense of belonging. Caribbean society can be described in
three ways:
1. Plural Society
2. Plantation Society
3. Creole Society

Culture
The word culture is a multifaceted and multidimensional concept. According to
Ralph Linton (1965) culture is the way of life of a people. The collection of
ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmit from one generation to
the next. Culture refers to things such as art, music, food, literature, dance,
beliefs, customs and dress etc. culture is more personal, while society is
broader.
Social Theories
This is where individuals attempt to understand and explain how a society
functions and works. Sociologists apply theories in order to explain social
phenomenon. There are two main branches. There is the structuralist
approach or macro sociology and there is the social action approach or micro
sociology.
Functionalism Marxism
Developed in the 19 and 20 It was developed in the 19 th Century
th th

centuries by Emile Durkheim and by Karl Marx (a German).

Talcott Parsons.
They believe that the institutions of For Marx society is filled with conflict
society are interconnected, as a result of private ownership of
interrelated and interdependent where there is one group who owns
(orgasmic analogy) – humans. the means of production (the
bourgeoisie-upper class) and the
group who does not own the means
of production ( the proletariat- lower
class)
They attempt to maintain the status Marxists attempt to change society
quo. by ending private ownership and the
end of class divisions.
They believe in social stratification, Marx’s Communist Utopia
inequality and meritocracy. encourages a communist society.
Pro-democracy and Pro Capitalism. Socialism and communism would be
the result of a revolution. All
resources would be owned and
controlled by the state who would
distribute the resources equally.
Promotes Private Ownership of Land
and Property.