Geography and Location
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean, covering 10,991 square kilometres (4,244 sq mi). It is the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean, after Cuba and the island of Hispaniola. Jamaica lies about 145 km (78 nmi) south of Cuba, 191 km (103 nmi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 215 km (116 nmi) southeast of the Cayman Islands.
Population and Capital
With 2.8 million people, Jamaica is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas and the fourth most populous country in the Caribbean. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city.
Etymology
The Indigenous Ciboney people called the island Xaymaca in their language, meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" or the "Land of Springs." Jamaicans often refer to their home island as "yaad" – the Jamaican Patois word for yard, meaning home. Other colloquial names such as "Jamrock," "Jamdown," or briefly "Ja" are also widely used.
Early History
There is no archaeological evidence of human presence on Jamaica until about 500 CE. The Redware people arrived circa 600 CE, followed by the Taíno circa 800 CE, who most likely came from South America. At their height, the Taíno are thought to have numbered some 60,000 people, grouped into around 200 villages headed by caciques (chiefs).
Christopher Columbus was the first European to see Jamaica, claiming the island for Spain after landing there in 1494 on his second voyage to the Americas. He returned in 1503 but was shipwrecked, forcing him and his crew to live on Jamaica for a year while waiting to be rescued.
Spanish Colonial Period (1509–1655)
The first Spanish settlement, Sevilla, was established in 1509 by Juan de Esquivel but was abandoned around 1524 because it was deemed unhealthy. The capital was moved to Spanish Town, then called St. Jago de la Vega, around 1534.
The Taíno population began dying in large numbers from introduced diseases and enslavement by the Spanish. As a result, the Spanish began importing slaves from Africa to the island. Many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote areas that became known as Maroons. By the early 17th century, the population of Jamaica had declined to an estimated 2,500–3,000 people.
British Conquest and Early British Rule
The English invaded Jamaica in 1655 under Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables, following a failed attempt to conquer Santo Domingo on Hispaniola. Battles at Ocho Rios in 1657 and the Rio Nuevo in 1658 resulted in Spanish defeats. In 1661, English civil government was formed.
When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists fled, but Spanish Jews chose to remain. Many enslaved people dispersed into the mountains, joining established Maroon communities. During this period, piracy became rampant on Jamaica, with Port Royal becoming notorious for its lawlessness. Spain recognised English possession of the island with the Treaty of Madrid (1670).
The English authorities began developing sugar cane plantations worked by large numbers of enslaved people. By the early 1670s, Black Africans formed a majority of the population. The Irish also formed a large part of the island's early population, making up two-thirds of the white population in the late 17th century. A limited form of local government was introduced with the creation of the House of Assembly of Jamaica in 1664.
Colonial Development and Slavery Era
Under British colonial rule, Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with a plantation economy dependent on continued importation of African slaves and their descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838. Many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than work on plantations. Beginning in the 1840s, the British began using Chinese and Indian indentured labourers for plantation work.
Independence and Modern Government
Jamaicans achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives. Andrew Holness has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since March 2016. Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as its king; the appointed representative of the Crown is the Governor-General of Jamaica, held by Patrick Allen since 2009.
Demographics
Most Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with significant European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities. Because of a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Economy and Tourism
Jamaica is an upper-middle-income country with an economy heavily dependent on tourism, including popular resorts. The country has an average of 4.3 million tourists a year.
Culture and Global Influence
The country has a global influence that belies its small size. Jamaica is the birthplace of the Rastafari religion and reggae music, along with the associated musical genres of dub, ska, and dancehall. It is internationally prominent in sports, including cricket, sprinting, and athletics. Jamaica has sometimes been considered the world's least populous cultural superpower.