Importance of Slavery to the Caribbean Essay - 2863 Words

Importance of Slavery to the Caribbean The significance of the role played by slaves in the history of the Caribbean cannot be overemphasized. Nearly everything that defines the Caribbean today can be traced back to the advent of Africans to the sugar plantations several centuries ago. For this reason it is impossible to ignore the issue of slavery when studying the history of the Caribbean, as we are doing in this class. Through our numerous readings on the status of slaves and their treatment by the societies in which they lived, we have learned much about the sufferings and ordeals of these people. The following is an attempt to organize my own particular feelings and reactions, which I have previously posted on-line throughout the†¦show more content†¦They were constantly being tested and lived very tough lives. Only the strongest survived, as they were forced to live completely independently of colonial communities and thus had to fend for themselves. They were also hampered by their lack of women in the ear ly stages, and it was not uncommon for a group of Maroons to raid another village in search of more women. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, did not have as many such problems, though they did not exactly have it easy either. They were more or less social bandits and gained international fame for their attacks on the Spanish and Spanish possessions. This was a huge help to the French and English, who did not have the power to do this themselves but were subsequently better able to establish colonies of their own in the New World. The main difference between the Buccaneers and the Maroons is that while the former clung to the European culture and society with which they were familiar, the latter attempted to create their own. The transition to sugar plantations in Puerto Rico came a bit later, while Cuba experienced this change a few years earlier. There are a few reasons why this is so, given that both islands were closely ruled by Spain. One of the main reasons given is ...the rate of prior capital accumulation and the attendant existence (or lack) of a capital reserve to invest in sugar once the demand arose. (Beckles and Shepherd, 1991, p. 58) For Cuba, the capital reserveShow MoreRelatedBook Report: Capitalism Slavery, Eric Williams1513 Words   |  7 PagesHIS294Y Thursday February 7th 2006 Book Report: Capitalism Slavery, Eric Williams Capitalism Slavery, (published by The University of North Carolina Press, 1994) was written by Eric Eustace Williams and first published in 1944. Eric Williams book, was at the time of its publication, considered years ahead of its time. It should be noted, early on within this report that, literary works on the history of the Caribbean or slavery for a matter of fact, was done by Europeans. In the prefaceRead MoreCapitalism And Slavery By Eric Eustace Williams Essay1232 Words   |  5 PagesCapitalism Slavery, (published by The University of North Carolina Press, 1994) was written by Eric Eustace Williams and first published in 1944. Eric Williams book, was at the time of its publication, considered years ahead of its time. It should be noted, early on within this report that, literary works on the history of the Caribbean or slavery for a matter of fact, was done by Europeans. In the preface of his book, Williams clearly asserts that his work, is not a study of the institu tionRead More A Caribbean Legacy Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pages A Caribbean Legacy The notions of slavery, colonialism, and race are indelible aspects of Caribbean history. In order to fathom the current political, social, economic, and cultural climate of the Caribbean one must engage in a critical study and understanding of the impact slavery has had in modern day Caribbean societies. 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