Discuss the major migratory movement into the Caribbean and state how the various migratory

movement have impacted on Cariibean society and culture?

Knowledge[10 marks]

Culture(material/non-material) Voyages
Society Conquest
Movements Migration
European technology Indigenous peoples
Labour Europeans
Enslavement

Pre-Columbian
Trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved
Africans
Settlement Forced migration
Trade Monocrop culture
Agriculture Plantation Society
Fishing Asian indentureship
Contract labour Indentured Europeans
Plural society Creolization
Social stratification Identity
Cultural diversity European conquest
Triangular Trade European exploitation
Plantation society Cultural diversity
Genocide
World capitalist empire
Indigenous People

Use of Knowledge [12 marks]

Migratory Movements

Indigenous Peoples

 The indigenous peoples came from the Orinoco north to the Lesser
Antilles; from Florida into Cuba, Bahamas; from Central America to
Jamaica.

 By 1490s large populations of Tainos resided in the Greater

Antilles, other groups in the Bahamas; Kalinagos in the Lesser
Antilles as well as other groups of earlier waves of migration.

 Their skills in sailing (pirogues), handicraft, fishing (methods),

and agriculture survive as examples of material culture. Many
 examples of cultural items and practices that are known of today
have their roots in the language of the indigenous peoples: such as
‘hurricane’, ‘cassava’, ‘hammock’ and ‘pepperpot’.

 The Kalinagoes, who mainly occupied the Lesser Antilles, were able
to survive, though many were killed by the Europeans. However, many
were sent by Europeans to British Honduras. Some live today and
form part of Caribbean culture and society — for example, St.
Vincent and Dominica. The mainland territories of Guyana, Belize
and Surname have even larger numbers of indigenous peoples.

The Europeans

 The coming of the Europeans was the next major migration via voyages
of conquest and adventure — the Spanish first, then the British
interlopers, Dutch and French (buccaneers, privateers, pirates,
traders and settlers). These Europeans became owners of the
plantations as they developed plantation society as a highly
stratified entity.

 The Spanish remained dominant in Cuba, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico
by genocide of the Tainos.

 Some English, Irish, Welsh and other Europeans were brought to work
as indentured servants. One popular term was “Barbadoesed”. As
indentured/bonded servants they worked on small plantations such as
tobacco. Debates still ensue over whether these indentured servants
can be classified as enslaved, i.e. that they experienced a form of
slavery. Arguments exist both for and against this proposition.

 The unions (forced and with consent) of Amerindians, Europeans and

Africans formed racial admixtures and a society of different skin
colours and physical features. For example, dougla, mulatto,
mestizo.

The Africans

 Forced migration (institution of African slavery) brought over 20 million Africans via the Middle
Passage and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Migrants came mainly from West Africa and went to
every Caribbean country.

 Enslaved Africans, and their descendants, became the mainstay of the labour force for the sugar
industry. The slave trade brought enslaved Africans into the region for the Spanish colonies and
then the other Europeans for over 200 years. Africans came mainly from the West of Africa
though several other regions were tapped on by the traders.

 Greatly impacted Caribbean society and culture — demography, plantation society, beliefs,
religions, arts, cuisine, for example, Syncretised religions evolved, creole languages, cultures
and African-Caribbean cultural practices.
  Another example of the impact — the several instances of revolts and resistance during slavery.
The Haitian Revolution proved to be the most successful revolt as it resulted in the complete
transformation of the economy, society, culture and political status of St. Domingue, which was
renamed Haiti.

Asian Indentureship

 Asian indentureship began as a solution to the perceived loss of labour for the key British
territories, namely British Guiana, Trinidad and Jamaica. It provided for the importations of
thousands from India, China and Java until the beginning of the 20th century.

 Javanese labourers were imported by the Dutch for their colonies in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and
Suriname. The largest numbers went to Suriname. One major impact of this form of Javanese
migration is that today, Suriname has the largest population of Muslim communities in the
Western Hemisphere. Miscegenation in former Dutch colonies is different from other colonies
because of the inclusion of Javanese, Chinese and Indian along with African, Creole and
Indigenous individuals. Note, however, that in many ways, Suriname can be described as a plural
society.

 Indian indentureship formed the backbone of the migrant labour force in British Guiana and
Trinidad. The sugar industry needed their labour to enable expansion into, for example, vast
untouched Crown lands of these two territories. The Indian indentured labourers also engineered
the rice industry and introduced new foods into the region; for example, curry and spices. New
festivals and new religions and celebrations from among the Hindus and Muslims were also
introduced.

 Chinese labourers also migrated into the Caribbean to work on the sugar plantations. However,
many removed themselves from plantation labour to set up businesses in the communities.
Again, new festivals and cultural practices were introduced, such as language, music and clothing.

Enquiry and Communication [8 marks]

Students must clearly examine THREE migratory movements in the Caribbean. They should also
evaluate the examples of the impact these movements had on society and culture. They must
emphasise the human all groups had some impact on the society and culture. Even the ones who have
supposedly died out still live on in the mitochondria DNA of Caribbean people or aspects of their
material culture. Other groups made more visible and lasting impacts because of greater numbers
(examples). An interesting question is the nature of their interactions today — plural societies.

Students should present their arguments logically and clearly and display good writing skills.