Transcript West Indies
INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ Podpora rozvoje cizích jazyků pro Evropu 21. stol. Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky. The West Indies • a large group of islands - over 3,000 individual islands and reefs • separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean • Today the West Indies are better known as the Caribbean • three main island groups: Bahamas (north) Greater Antilles (central) Lesser Antilles (southeast) Why Indies? • Columbus called these islands the Indies - he thought he reached Asia • Spanish renamed them the West Indies, - to distinguish them from the Spice Islands in the Pacific Ocean, (the East Indies) which we now call Indonesia. History • Indians from Central America migrated to the West Indies since 5000 B.C. • Europeans arrived at the end of the 15th century. • first explorer was Christopher Columbus in 1492 • Spain began colonization in the 1500's, sugarcane plantations, Indian population enslaved for labor • Indians soon died out, importing slaves from Africa • the 1600's British, Dutch, and French colonies were established - rivalry • Piracy – on islands bases from which they preyed on treasure ships carrying gold and silver from the New World to Spain Blackbeard • most infamous pirate who ever lived • born in England - Bristol around the year 1680 • served as a privateer inflicting heavy damage on Spanish shipping • when prohibitted, took to piracy • In 1718 left to raid the coastal towns of Virginia and the Carolinas • The governor of Virginia put a price on Blackbeard's head, captured • the 19th century, Great Britain dominant power in the West Indies • Cuba and Puerto Rico (Spanish colonies) ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War • Cuba was granted independence in 1902 • Several British colonies were given their independence in the 20th century • The United States intervened in the affairs of West Indian nations to maintain peace in the Caribbean • American forces occupied Haiti, 1915–34, the Dominican Republic, 1916–24, and Grenada 1. The Bahamas • consist of 700 islands • Capital: Nassau - one of the most popular tourist spots • people: cca 300,000, most of West African descent • abolition of slavery, life changed drastically. The plantations dissolved, people turned to the sea (sponging and fishing) or tried to farm. • lack of fertile cropland • Religion is an integral part of Bahamian life. Every village has a church. • the new industry of tourism - the beauty and life of the islands 2. The Greater Antilles • include the island Cuba, Haiti and Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico • these islands are close to Mexico, South America and Florida • Sharks, Turtles and Whales are found in the water of this small island The Republic of Cuba • Capital: Havana (the largest city in Cuba) • Population: 11 million people, mainly Spanish and African origins • Language: Spanish • Totalitarian communist state controlled by General Raul Castro who replaced his brother Fidel Castro as president of Cuba in 2008 • Agriculture: sugar, citrus, tropical fruits, tobacco, coffee, rice, beans, meat, vegetables • a highly militarized society • last major Spanish colony to gain independence • The Spanish-American War – 1895 Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule, Americans wanted to help • 1898 Cuba - a Spanish colony, sugar and tobacco plantations, ship Maine – blown to pieces • Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (1898), Spain loses their colonies in Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States Aftermath of Spanish – American War Cuba - after war independent country BUT! the Platt Amendment: USA could control Cuba whenever it felt Americans interests were in danger Economy • Sugar, the highlight of the economy, undergoes troubled times • 1989 production was more than 8 mil. tons • in 2005 it was only 1.3 million tons • half of the sugar mills were closed, 100,000 workers were laid off, government promised them to be "retrained" in other fields, but no new jobs available in Cuba's stagnant economy • Tourism = "heart of the economy” • workers in Cuba's tourist sector prohibited from accepting gifts, tips, or even food from foreigners • 2004 the government mandated that U.S. dollars be exchanged for "convertible pesos"- a local currency that can be used only in special shops on the island - for a 10% charge • affects Cubans who receive remittances from relatives in the U.S. Jamaica • One of the largest island in the Caribbean • mountainous in the interior with a peak in the Blue Mountains of 7,402 feet • Population: 2.8 million people • The capital: Kingston • Official language: English • Remains a part of Commonwealth with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State History of Jamaica • Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494 • The English seized the island in 1655 • the Jamaican Maroons – run-away slaves • Was one of the world's leading sugarexporting and slave-dependent nations • abolition of the slave trade – import of Indian and Chinese workers Jamaican creole • an English–African language spoken primarily in Jamaica • the language developed in the 17th century, slaves from Africa learned dialectal forms of English spoken by their masters • exists mostly as a spoken language • pronunciation and vocabulary very different from English • similarities to the pidgin languages of West Africa due to their common descent Famous Jamaicans Bob Marley (1945 – 1981) A singer, performer of reggae music Claude McKay (1889 – 1948) writer and poet, involved in the Harlem Renaissance, also wrote in his native dialect Haiti • One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world • the first black-led republic in the world • Population: 9 mil., 95% black • Capital: Port-au-Prince • Official languages: Haitian Creole and French • terrain consists mainly of rugged mountains Disaster in Haiti • disasters include hurricanes and storms • In Jan. 2010 a massive earthquake struck Haiti • thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go or waiting for treatment • Czech charities involved too The Lesser Antilles • are islands to the southeast • divided into two 2 groups 1. the Leeward Islands - westerly from Guadeloupe to the Virgin Islands 2. Windward Islands - from Dominica to Grenada INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ Tato výuková prezentace byla pořízena z finančních prostředků hrazených Evropským sociálním fondem a rozpočtem České republiky. Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky.