Xaymaca and the Arawaks
Jamaica has a rich history. It was first settled over 2,500 years ago by the Arawak (Tainos) people. They named the island Xaymaca, “land of wood and water.” They were farmers and fishermen. They grew a variety of crops including sweet potatoes, corn, cassava, cotton and tobacco.
Columbus and Spain
On Columbus’ second trip to the Americas, he came to Xaymaca in 1494. He had been told it was “the land of blessed gold”. Lured by the false promise of gold, he claimed the island for Spain who later gifted it to Columbus’ family in 1540. Once the Spanish settled in Jamaica in 1509, they enslaved the Arawak people and took over their lands. Within 50 years, no Arawak people remained on Jamaica. Although a few left the island, many died due to disease or the harsh working conditions.
Sugar Cane and Slavery
As with many of the Caribbean Island, sugar cane plantations were a main source of wealth for colonists living in Jamaica. Growing and harvesting large quantities of sugar cane was hard work and required many hands to accomplish the task. Unable to do the work on their own, the Spanish initially used the Arawak people they had enslaved. However, as the Arawaks died, they purchased slaves from Africa to replace them.
Buccaneers – the Pirates of England
Eventually Spain lost control of Jamaica to England. Buccaneers, pirates working for England, harassed the Spanish in the Caribbean for decades. In 1655, Oliver Cromwell sent English soldiers and buccaneers to the Caribbean to take Hispaniola for England. When they failed to take their original target, they sailed to Jamaica and attacked the Spanish. Spain surrendered Jamaica to England and most of the colonists fled to Cuba, although some hid out in northern Jamaica. Henry Morgan, one of the buccaneers who helped to take Jamaica later became the governor of Jamaica. He governed from Port Royal, an infamous city known as the pirate capital of the Caribbean.
Maroons and Emancipation
When fleeing Jamaica, the Spaniards left behind their slaves. Not trusting the English to honor their newfound freedom, they fled to the mountainous region of Jamaica and made their home there. They and their descendants became known as the Maroons, named after the Spanish word marrano (wild boar). They used guerilla warfare tactics against the English colonists, often supporting slave rebellions and sheltering other Africans fleeing English slavery. At times, they would sign treaties with the English that granted them and their descendants land and guaranteed freedom in return for not harboring escaped slaves or supporting rebellions. However, relations were tense and would often flare up into conflict again. Finally, on May 1, 1834, Jamaica began the process of emancipating its slaves. All children under the age of 6 were freed, but all others had to work as unpaid apprentices for 49 hours a week until 1838 when all Jamaicans now lived as free men and women.
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