The island of Jamaica is home to the Blue Mountains inland and is surrounded by a narrow coastal plain. Most major towns and both cities are located on the coast. Chief towns include the capital city Kingston, Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and the city of Montego Bay. History Sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1494, Jamaica was conquered and settled in 1509 by Spaniards under a license from Columbus's son. Spanish exploitation decimated the native Arawaks. The island remained Spanish until 1655, when Admiral William Penn and Robert Venables captured it; it was formally ceded to England in 1670, but the local European population obtained a degree of autonomy. Jamaica prospered from the wealth brought by buccaneers, notably Sir Henry Morgan, to Port Royal, the capital; in 1692, however, much of the city sank into the sea during an earthquake, and Spanish Town became the new capital.
The West Indies is an archipelago around the Carribean Sea. The name is derived from its geographical position and its relation to Columbus' original voyage to the area. 'West' differentiates from the 'Indies' in South and Southeast Asia. 2. Who were the original inhabitants of the area? After 500 BC, the Saladoid people migrated from present-day Venzuela to the Lesser Antilles. Around 650 AD, the Saladoid people were replaced by the Arawak Indians Around 1200 AD, the Arawaks were in turn succeeded by the Caribs. 3. When and by whom were most of these islands discovered for the Europeans? 1490s Christopher Columbus 4. Which countries colonised this area? The Spanish and Portuguese arrived in C16. England, France, and the Netherlands began their conquests in C17. Denmark only acquired a few islands. 5. Which languages are spoken in the West Indies? What is the origin of the people who live there? Pidgin is a simplified language that is born out of contact (e.g
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