The CarribeanThe Carribean

PART 1: LOCATIONPART 1: LOCATION

Where it is…Where it is…• The Carribean is the name for the group of islands in The Carribean is the name for the group of islands in

the Gulf of Mexico. the Gulf of Mexico.

• Important Location for Trade - Caribbean waterways Important Location for Trade - Caribbean waterways give access to the Gulf of Mexico and the give access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Panama CanalCanal

• THE CANAL link Europe with Latin America, the East THE CANAL link Europe with Latin America, the East coast of United States with the West Coast, and Asia, coast of United States with the West Coast, and Asia, and South America with North Americaand South America with North America

Geographic CharacteristicsGeographic Characteristics

• Islands are isolated from each other: Islands are isolated from each other: island nature gives absolute control of island nature gives absolute control of each island/ group of islands to one powereach island/ group of islands to one power

• islands with limited area led to islands with limited area led to vulnerabilityvulnerability for for demographic demographic destructiondestruction and forced and forced assimilationassimilation by by the Europeans (Caribs and Arawaks)the Europeans (Caribs and Arawaks)

• http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.presehttp://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/culturent/culture// (Taino example…) (Taino example…)

Small Size of IslandsSmall Size of Islands

• Because the islands are so small, they Because the islands are so small, they are the most densely populated region are the most densely populated region of the Americasof the Americas

• inefficient and expensiveinefficient and expensive to to operate individual governments, operate individual governments, educational systems, and health and educational systems, and health and welfare systems (compared to Can. welfare systems (compared to Can. And US)And US)

• pollution issuespollution issues are amplified are amplified (sewage, water issues, waste (sewage, water issues, waste

disposal..)disposal..)

What it Looks LikeWhat it Looks Like

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CARRIBEANCARRIBEAN

The AntillesThe Antilles

• Explorers from Europe wrote stories and Explorers from Europe wrote stories and legends about the Caribbean, but they legends about the Caribbean, but they called this area The Antilles.called this area The Antilles.

• in in legendlegend Anatolia was a semi-mythical Anatolia was a semi-mythical land located somewhere west of Europe land located somewhere west of Europe across the Atlanticacross the Atlantic

• On On medieval chartsmedieval charts the region was often the region was often drawn as a continent, or large island and drawn as a continent, or large island and sometimes an archipelago (a series of sometimes an archipelago (a series of islands in a shape)islands in a shape)

The AntillesThe Antilles

•After "discovery" by Columbus, After "discovery" by Columbus, the Spanish term “Antillas” was the Spanish term “Antillas” was commonly assigned to the new commonly assigned to the new landslands

•"Sea of the Antilles" in various "Sea of the Antilles" in various European languages is used as European languages is used as ANOTHER NAME for the ANOTHER NAME for the Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

Columbus’ Big Mistake…Columbus’ Big Mistake…

• Why did I say “Discovered”? Why did I say “Discovered”?

• Christopher Columbus Didn’t REALLY Christopher Columbus Didn’t REALLY discover AMERICA… he got there by discover AMERICA… he got there by mistake.mistake.

• He was trying to prove the world was He was trying to prove the world was roundround

• He though he was in India.He though he was in India.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER CLIMATE AND WEATHER PATTERNSPATTERNS

(It’s not ALWAYS paradise!)(It’s not ALWAYS paradise!)

Climate: It is TOASTY!Climate: It is TOASTY!

• Climate is mild and warm – same Climate is mild and warm – same temperature almost all year roundtemperature almost all year round

• Cause by the Cause by the Maritime TropicalMaritime Tropical air air mass: mass:

- average annual temperatures are - average annual temperatures are about 26.6 C, and don’t really about 26.6 C, and don’t really change between seasons at all.change between seasons at all.

Precipitation and Trade Precipitation and Trade WindsWinds

• Weather patters are controlled by Weather patters are controlled by the the northeast trade windsnortheast trade winds

• These winds modify the tropical heat These winds modify the tropical heat and produce most precipitation in the and produce most precipitation in the areaarea

• Most rain falls in late summer and Most rain falls in late summer and the fall, with the spring and early the fall, with the spring and early summer a drier seasonsummer a drier season

Weather: Why NO Weather: Why NO SEASONS?SEASONS?• That’s right; there That’s right; there

aren’t really the aren’t really the kinds of seasons kinds of seasons we’re used to in we’re used to in Canada in the Canada in the CarribbeanCarribbean

• This is because it is This is because it is basically right ON basically right ON the equatorthe equator

HURRICANES!HURRICANES!• The region IS nice and DOES have nice The region IS nice and DOES have nice

weather, but gets hurricanesweather, but gets hurricanes

Hurricanes are A HUGE issue for the Hurricanes are A HUGE issue for the Caribbean because…Caribbean because…

• Easterly trade windsEasterly trade winds intensify the spin intensify the spin of the of the hurricane (feed the hurricane)hurricane (feed the hurricane)

• a continual a continual supply of warm humid airsupply of warm humid air from the ocean (+27c) will keep the from the ocean (+27c) will keep the convection currents active (feed the convection currents active (feed the hurricane and MAKE IT WORSE!)hurricane and MAKE IT WORSE!)

How Does This Happen?How Does This Happen?• The Warm Ocean is the PERFECT place for a The Warm Ocean is the PERFECT place for a

severe hurricane.severe hurricane.

How A Hurricane Builds…How A Hurricane Builds…

What HappensWhat Happens

Hurricane Irene AnimationHurricane Irene Animationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrWqFOjBvMshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrWqFOjBvMs

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrinahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kou0HBpX4A&fhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kou0HBpX4A&feature=relatedeature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWANMstFfgwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWANMstFfgw

Dealiest list: Dealiest list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deadliest_Atlahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deadliest_Atlantic_hurricanesntic_hurricanes

The Hurricane Season!The Hurricane Season!• The ‘season’ runs from June 1st to Nov The ‘season’ runs from June 1st to Nov

30th30th

• If you are looking for cheap travel, you can If you are looking for cheap travel, you can get some great vacation deals!!! get some great vacation deals!!!

The Colonial ‘Tradition’ of The Colonial ‘Tradition’ of the Americasthe Americas

Some Examples of How Slaves Some Examples of How Slaves Were Moved…Were Moved…

• A Triangular SystemA Triangular System

The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade

The Global Colonial SystemThe Global Colonial System

The ‘Legacy’The ‘Legacy’

•Colonialism and the slave trade Colonialism and the slave trade

=destruction of religion=destruction of religion

=destruction of culture=destruction of culture

=destruction of life as natives =destruction of life as natives knew it…knew it…

-Arawaks and Caribs-Arawaks and Caribs

What it BroughtWhat it Brought

•war/ piracywar/ piracy

•diseasedisease

•dominationdomination

A Modern Multicultural A Modern Multicultural RegionRegionDespite its ugly past, the Caribbean is now a more Despite its ugly past, the Caribbean is now a more

modern, multicultural region with peoples from modern, multicultural region with peoples from origins such asorigins such as

• EnglishEnglish• DutchDutch• FrenchFrench• SpanishSpanish• PortuguesePortuguese• GermanGerman• AfricanAfrican