1. CARIBBEAN STUDIES
A.BALLIRAM

2. OBJECTIVES
 Rationale of Subject & Objectives
 Locating the Caribbean in the Global
Conflict
 Characteristics of Region – similarities &
differences

3. Introduction & Overview of Syllabus
 Structure of Syllabus: 3 Modules
1. Module 1 – Caribbean Society & Culture
2. Module 2 – Issues in Caribbean
Development
3. Module 3 – Investigating Human & Social
Development in the Caribbean

4. Overview of Examination
 External Assessment (60%)
Written Papers – 4hrs. 30mins
Paper 1 – 15 compulsory short-response questions
(1hr. 30mins : 27%)
Paper 2 – 8 essay questions to answer any 4
(3hrs : 33%)
 Internal Assessment (40%)
Paper 3 - A research project

5. Rationale of Subject & Objectives
 Caribbean Studies classifies the Caribbean
area in terms of geography, common
historical experiences, participation in the
global community, intermixing of diverse
ethnic & racial groups, & its continual
struggle for survival & sovereignty.

6. LOCATION OF THE CARIBBEAN
 There is no one way to define the Caribbean.
 It is generally believed that the Caribbean is a
“melting pot”. This concept refers to the
combination of a variety cultures, people and
experiences all coming together to form one unique
culture.
 In light of this, we can safely say that Jamaica’s
motto “Out of many, one people”, aptly describes the
make up of the Caribbean region.

7. DEFINITIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION
 The Caribbean is a disjoint land bridge between
North and South America with an East - West
stretch of almost 3000 Km and a North -South
reach of some 1500 Km.
 Only 10% of this is land.

8. LOCATION OF THE CARIBBEAN
 Greater Antilles: Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican
Republic), Cuba Jamaica, Puerto Rico
 Lesser Antilles:
Windward islands: Grenada, St. Vincent, St.
Lucia, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique
 Leeward islands: Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-
Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Virgin islands
 Netherland Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao
(ABC islands); Saint Marten, Saba,
St. Eustatius

9. LOCATION OF THE CARIBBEAN
 Mainland Territories: Guyana, Belize, Suriname,
Cayenne (French Guyana)
 Others: Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago,
Cayman Islands, Bahamas Islands,
Turks and Caicos Islands

10. 1. The Geographical Caribbean

11. 1. The Geographical Caribbean
 This describes the area washed by the
Caribbean Sea and is often described as the
Caribbean Basin.
 It would therefore include most of the
islands of the Lesser and Greater Antilles as
well as the mainland territories of Central
America and Northern South America such
as Venezuela and Columbia.

12. 2. The Geological Caribbean
 This is not as well-used as the other ways by
which we define the Caribbean region.
However, it shows that there are deep-
seated structural features of Caribbean
geology which also identifies commonalities.
 It is the area that is defined by the Caribbean
Plate and which expresses similar
tectonic, seismic and volcanic features and
processes.

13. 2. The Geological Caribbean

14. 2. The Geological Caribbean

15. 2. The Geological Caribbean
 The Caribbean is situated in a geologic feature
known as the Caribbean Plate which has
boundaries or margins with other plates nearby.
On the whole the earth is made up of six or seven
plates and many smaller ones. The Caribbean Plate
is a small plate. Other geological features of the
region include the fact that:
 the entire Caribbean region is in an earthquake
zone
 the Lesser Antilles is made up of volcanoes, several
of which are active

16. 3. The Historical Caribbean
 This describe the area that saw the impact of
European colonization, slavery, indentureship
and the plantation system.
 This refers to all the territories that
experienced the rule of specific European
countries: the English, French, Dutch and the
Spanish.
 The common feature in this definition is that
they share the same historical or cultural
experiences.

17. 3. The Historical Caribbean
 The Spanish through the encomienda system
and other means exterminated the original
inhabitants.
 The British introduced the plantation system
and with it, the enslavement of Africans and the
indentureship of the Chinese and East Indians.
 The Dutch and French not only colonized but
were involved in an ongoing trade within the
region.

18. 3. The Historical Caribbean
LEGEND
ENGLISH
SPANISH
FRENCH
DUTCH

19. 3. The Historical Caribbean
 It should be noted that Guyana (which was first
under Dutch control, then English), Surinam
(which was under Dutch control) and French
Guiana (which is STILL under French control) are
not represented in the slide.
 They are apart of the Caribbean because they
share the same historical/cultural experiences as
all those which are represented in the previous
slide.

20. 4. The Political Caribbean
The Caribbean has three main government systems:
 Independent States – these are former colonies which
are now self-governing. These are islands which have
chosen a method of governance that is different from
that of their colonial masters, namely democracy or
communism;
 Associated States – these are territories which are not
independent but enjoy all the rights and privileges of the
country that governs it;
 Colonial Dependencies – these are territories which are
directly governed by other countries but do not enjoy the
rights and privileges that’s enjoyed by inhabitants in an
Associated State.

21. 4. The Political Caribbean
LEGEND
Independent States
Associated State
Colonial Territories

22. Problems in defining the Caribbean
 The definition of the Caribbean discussed above
contains anomalies (problems or error) that are
identified in the table below. Make sure you are
acquainted with them.
 Caribbean Identity & Culture: Identity is strongly
influenced by ethnicity!

23. Problems in defining the Caribbean
Geographical Historical Geological
1 Guyana and the The “problem” with The western edge
Bahamas do not defining the “Caribbean” of the Caribbean
have coastlines on according to linguistic or Plate is located in
the Caribbean Sea. European heritage, is that, the Pacific and
Yet both countries that tends to ignore the includes
are commonly commonalities of Honduras, Costa
accepted as part of Caribbean experience at Rica, Nicaragua
the Caribbean. the hands of these colonial and Panama in
powers. the Caribbean.
2 This definition This definition would The northern edge
includes countries include Guyana and the of the Caribbean
not normally Bahamas. It should also Plate defines
associated with the include the French, Dutch much of Belize,
“Caribbean” – and Spanish speaking Cuba and the
Panama, Columbia countries of the Caribbean Bahamas as extra-
and the other and Central America. regional.
countries of Central Similarly Guyana
America. in the South.