WELCOME TO THE CARIBBEAN

MS. PERCY

Group ThinkGroup Think• At your table, brainstorm a list of At your table, brainstorm a list of

descriptive words for each of these descriptive words for each of these aspects of the Caribbean:aspects of the Caribbean:

• Physical EnvironmentPhysical Environment

• CultureCulture

• Economic ActivitiesEconomic Activities

What does the Caribbean seem to be most well-What does the Caribbean seem to be most well-known for?known for?

Why do you think this is the case?Why do you think this is the case?

The HistoryThe History

• At your table, re-order the information At your table, re-order the information so that it makes senseso that it makes sense

• Read it together and discuss this Read it together and discuss this question:question:

How might the colonial history of the Caribbean How might the colonial history of the Caribbean help to explain why it is economically less help to explain why it is economically less developed than North America or Europe?developed than North America or Europe?

Read it and Listen!Read it and Listen!• Read pages 64-66 in Read pages 64-66 in Travel and TourismTravel and Tourism

and answer questions 4 and 6 on page and answer questions 4 and 6 on page 6767

• Music and pop culture are often the Music and pop culture are often the vehicles through which a peoples’ vehicles through which a peoples’ history is expressedhistory is expressed

• Listen to Bob Marley’s song Listen to Bob Marley’s song “Slave Driver” and follow along with the and follow along with the lyricslyrics

• As you listen, identify lyrics that reflect As you listen, identify lyrics that reflect the history of the regionthe history of the region

Slave Driver LyricsSlave Driver Lyrics

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Region consists of THREE major island Region consists of THREE major island groups: The Bahamas, The Greater Antilles groups: The Bahamas, The Greater Antilles and The Lesser Antillesand The Lesser Antilles

• Situated in Caribbean Sea. Gulf of Mexico Situated in Caribbean Sea. Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and eastnorth and east

• Ideal for tourism. Sun and Sea!Ideal for tourism. Sun and Sea!

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Tropical climateTropical climate

• December – April = sunny, dry, warmDecember – April = sunny, dry, warm

• May – November = hot, humid, wetMay – November = hot, humid, wet

• Trade winds blow from the east across Trade winds blow from the east across AtlanticAtlantic

• Subject to violent storms and Subject to violent storms and hurricaneshurricanes

CULTURECULTURE

• Unique blending of Amerindian, African Unique blending of Amerindian, African and European culturesand European cultures

• Approx. ¾ of population is of African Approx. ¾ of population is of African descentdescent

• East Indian and Chinese workers came in East Indian and Chinese workers came in 1919thth Century Century

Trans-Atlantic Slave TradeTrans-Atlantic Slave Trade

• Trans-Atlantic Slave trade (c. 16Trans-Atlantic Slave trade (c. 16thth C) brought people C) brought people from all over Africa to the Caribbean to work on from all over Africa to the Caribbean to work on plantations (sugar, coffee, tea etc.)plantations (sugar, coffee, tea etc.)

• Slaves developed common language to Slaves developed common language to communicate known as communicate known as Creole Creole (mix of African (mix of African syntax and colonial languages)syntax and colonial languages)

• Blend of cultures given rise to new phenomena Blend of cultures given rise to new phenomena such as such as calypso music (first developed in Trinidad) and soca music

CULTURECULTURE

• Each island has distinct Each island has distinct cultureculture

• Festivals, music, art, Festivals, music, art, customs and food reflect customs and food reflect cultural mosaiccultural mosaic

• Eg. Eg. ““Sun SplashSun Splash”” annual annual reggae music festival reggae music festival held in Montego Bay, held in Montego Bay, JamaicaJamaica

• Crop Over in Barbadosin Barbados

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIESECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

• Caribbean region is part of the Caribbean region is part of the developing worlddeveloping world (countries (countries with low GDPs, low standards with low GDPs, low standards of living compared to of living compared to developed countries) developed countries)

• Commercial agriculture is Commercial agriculture is important to economyimportant to economy

• Bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, Bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, sugar cane grown for exportsugar cane grown for export

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIESECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

• Sugar cane is main agricultural export of Sugar cane is main agricultural export of Jamaica, Cuba and Dominican RepublicJamaica, Cuba and Dominican Republic

• Subsistence FarmingSubsistence Farming (farming to feed your (farming to feed your family) is still practicedfamily) is still practiced

• Caribbean is dependent on agricultural exports, Caribbean is dependent on agricultural exports, and now TOURISM!and now TOURISM!

• Tourism offers the most potential for economic Tourism offers the most potential for economic growth and securitygrowth and security

• In 2011, T&T provided In 2011, T&T provided directdirect 614,000 jobs 614,000 jobs