West Indies

The West Indies is a region west of the Atlantic Ocean. A group of Islands in the Caribbean Ocean discovered and exploited for their rich and diverse resources by many different European countries, causing land rushes and clashes of countries amidst war.

History

Spain first laid claim to what was called the West Indies in the late 1400s. Spain had a large monopoly on the Islands and South and Central America most importantly.

Beginning in the 1620s and 1630s, non-Hispanic privateers, traders, and settlers established permanent colonies and trading posts on islands neglected by Spain. Notable areas being Jamaica, Tortola, and Western Hispaniola.

Indiginous Peoples

Three main groups of peoples living on the Islands.

• Caribs - Islanders: also known as the Kalinago

• Galibi - Mainlander Caribs

• Ciboney - Taino sub-group that lived on the Islands

Fauna & Flora

Fauna

• Tree-frogs

• Fer-de-Lance snake

• Antillean Iguana

• Lizards

• Fruit Bats

• Sand crabs

• Hawksbill turtle

• Gulls

• Royal Terns

• Green Heron

• Lesser Antillean Bullfinch

• Antillean Crested Hummingbirds

• Purple-throated Carib

• Laughing Gull

Flora

• Poinsettia

• Hibiscus

• Aloe Vera

• Acacia trees

• Sea grape trees

• Manchineel - posionus tree

• Coconut palms

• Breadfruit

Notable Islands

• Antigua

• Jamaica

• Tortola (British Vigrin Islands)

• Cuba

• Grenada

• Haiti

• St. Kitts and Nevis

Alternative Name(s)

Caribbean Islands

Type

Archipelago

Included Locations

• Basseterre
• St. Kitts

Contested By

• England
• France
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Spain