Spanish Jamaica

Jamaica, 1509–1655. Draft, not yet reviewed

The Spanish Empire began its official governance of Jamaica in 1509, when the first Spanish settlement on the island was founded. In 1534 the settlers moved to a new, healthier site away from the malaria infested marsh lands. The Spaniards enslaved many of the native people, overworking and harming them to the point that most had perished within fifty years of European arrival. In May 1655, around 7,000 English soldiers landed near Jamaica's Spanish Town capital.

Seat of power: Spanish Town

No rulers documented for this era yet.

Culture

• Most Taíno lived in large circular buildings called bohios, built with wooden poles, woven straw and palm leaves.
• The Taino spoke an Arawakan language, and some of their words, such as hamaca and tabaco, have been incorporated into both Spanish and English.
• Many slaves managed to escape and formed autonomous communities in remote and easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, and these communities became known as Maroons.
• Starting in 1510, a Jewish community sprang up in Jamaica, mainly comprising traders and merchants who were looking to avoid religious persecution back home.

Picture

Spanish Town was the Spanish and British capital of Jamaica from 1534 until 1872.

Image: Photo by Not home (talk); Not home at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, file

Sources

• Colony of Santiago (Wikipedia)
• Spanish Jamaica (Wikidata)
• About the picture (Wikipedia)

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.