Jamaica:
Background |
| |
| Click
on the image for
larger version |
|
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee - was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. The cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy. --
CIA World Factbook |
Don't
miss the GIS Maps of
Jamaica |
 |
|
 |
We do not yet have any articles for Jamaica.
We know there is someone in Jamaica who will step up and
tell us about this great country. All you need is good photos and
a love of Jamaica, its people, traditions, and natural
wonders. In return, WorldCountries.info will promote your web site
and give you free advertising. We will not rest until every country
and indigenous people of the world are represented here, so please
help us. We believe you will agree that this mission is an important
one. Meanwhile, you can use the links above or below to:
- Read the Jamaica Profile
- View the Jamaica Flag
- Use either the MS Virtual Earth GIS map of Jamaica
or the Google GIS map of the country
- See the Jamaica map used in the CIA
World Factbook
- Check out Jamaica Web Resources
- Shop for Jamaica Books or Music in
our Amazon Store
- Get the latest Jamaica news
- Get the latest Jamaica weather
|
