Module1: Location and Definition of the Caribbean Region and Its Region Flashcards
Where is the Caribbean region located geographically?
The Caribbean region is located in the Americas, consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and surrounding areas. It lies southeast of North America and the Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America, and northwest of South America.
What are the four sub-regions of the Caribbean?
The four sub-regions of the Caribbean are:
1.Lesser Antilles
2.Greater Antilles
3.Mainland Territories
4.Other Territories (e.g., The Bahamas, Cayman Islands)
What islands form the Greater Antilles?
The Greater Antilles include the four largest islands in the Caribbean:
1.Cuba
2.Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic)
3.Jamaica
4.Puerto Rico
What are the 5 major ways to define the Caribbean?
1.Geographical factors
2.Geological factors
3.Historical significance
4.Political characteristics
5.Diasporic influence
Geographical Definition of the Caribbean
The Geographical Caribbean refers to the areas washed by the Caribbean Sea, including the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and mainland territories like Belize and northern South America. It includes islands like Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, even if they aren’t directly in the Caribbean Sea.
What is the Caribbean Plate, and how does it relate to the region’s geology?
The Caribbean Plate is a major tectonic plate underlying the region, responsible for the seismic and volcanic activity. The Lesser Antilles were formed by tectonic processes, specifically at the destructive plate margin on the eastern Caribbean Plate.
Historical Definition of the Caribbean.
The Historical Caribbean includes countries with shared experiences of colonization, slavery, and the plantation system. Colonial powers like Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands shaped its culture, language, and social structures.
What are the main colonial influences on the Caribbean?
Spain: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
Britain: Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Bahamas
France: Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique
Netherlands: Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire
Political Definition of the Caribbean
Political caribbean refers to countries with shared political experiences, such as colonial dependence or association. Countries are divided into independent states, associated states, and colonial dependencies.
Diasporic Definition of the Caribbean
Caribbean Diaspora refers to people of Caribbean origin who have migrated to other parts of the world but maintain cultural, economic, or emotional ties to the Caribbean region.
What challenges exist in defining the Caribbean region?
There are multiple ways to define the Caribbean—geographically, geologically, politically, historically, or through the diaspora. Different definitions include areas that may not lie in the Caribbean Sea but share cultural or historical traits, such as the Bahamas or Belize.
How did European colonization impact the Caribbean?
The Caribbean was colonized by Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands, leading to diverse cultures and languages. Colonization introduced systems like the encomienda, slavery, and plantation economies that shaped the region’s social and economic structures.
What are the boundaries of the Caribbean region?
North: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico
South: Colombia, Venezuela, Panama
East: Lesser Antilles chain
West: Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
Define Colonization
Colonization is the settlement and control of foreign territories by a group of people, often involving mass migration and exploitation of the indigenous populations.
What is the Plantation System?
The Plantation System was a form of large-scale agricultural production focused on cash crops like sugar, typically using enslaved labor, and it was central to the Caribbean’s economy during colonial times.
