Summary

A Brief History of the Caribbean is an overview of the historical events that have taken place and shaped the islands of the Caribbean Sea—beginning with an account of the indigenous populations before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and ending with the major political and economic developments in early 2007 in Aruba, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, among others.

The historical perspective is enriched by allusions to the culture, manners, and morals of particular periods, often highlighting the connection between literary activities and politics, such as the Negritude Movement, and literary figures and politicians, such as Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic. Complementing the narrative are sidebars with important and unusual information on topics such as women pirates, meals eaten by slaves, and the cultural preference for strong leaders in the region. The authors attempt to give readers a multicultural perspective that will allow them to understand events from both an insider’s and an outsider’s viewpoints.

Coverage includes:

• Pre-Columbian Inhabitants
• Two Worlds in Collision: The Spanish Conquest
• European Challenges to Spanish Rule
• Revolutions in America, France, and Haiti
• Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Spanish-Cuban-American War
• Cuban Dictatorship and Revolution
• Commonwealth, Federation, and Autonomy: Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the Dutch Caribbean
• The Twenty-first Century: Immigration and Uncertainties.

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Index. Appendixes. Bibliography. Suggested reading. Chronology. Basic facts. Sidebars.

About the Author(s)

D.H. Figueredo is director of the Library and Media Center at Bloomfield College. He has taught courses on Latin American literature at Montclair State University and Bloomfield College, and lectured at major international universities. His books include Encyclopedia of Caribbean Literature and Encyclopedia of Cuba, and he has written several other works of fiction and nonfiction. He regularly contributes to Booklist, Multicultural Review, and other publications.

Frank Argote-Freyre is assistant professor at Kean University. He has earned a Ph.D. in Latin American history from Rutgers University and is the author of Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman.