Caribbean hermit crab

Slavery is an ancient practice with origins that date as far back as the Maya civilization that began around 2000 BC, both the Bible and the Koran address slavery. (BBC) However, in the New World slavery was introduced by the Dutch in 1619 at Jamestown, Virginia, to help in the production of profitable crops like tobacco. A majority of the slaves entered America through the West Indies after a period of seasoning then reexported to Chesapeake or the Lower South. (Making America, 81) Roughly…

In my opinion the French were the most ethical group in colonizing the New World because they did not come to conquer or enslave native populations. They came to work collectively with the native inhabitants to create a lucrative trade network comprised of military forts, trading posts and agricultural villages. The French were respectful of the native inhabitants and that respect was reciprocated. They also developed a respect for the land and its inhabitants, which resonated with the natives…

Columbus was praised for his new discovery and the Spanish monarchs financed another voyage. So, Columbus again set out for the Americas. He left in September 1493 with 2 large ships and 15 small ships. His travels led to the further exploration of the Caribbean and the islands…

Slave narratives offer a first person account of the experiences of individuals and their experiences during slavery. They can also provide much insight into the realities of the past. In an interview by Adella S. Dixon on July 28, 1937, Della Briscoe tells the story of her time as a slave on the Georgia plantation. Della Briscoe lived on a large plantation in Putnam County, Georgia owned by David Ross. He was described by Mrs. Briscoe as the richest planter in the county. Times during…

The Spanish exploration of America brought many new foods, types of plants, and forms of wealth to the European world. The wealth brought to Spain from the Americas came at a cost that was paid for by the enslavement and the sufferings of Native Americans and eventually the Africans. The Spanish colonization from 1492 to 1700 was motivated by religious conversion of all peoples in America and the desire for wealth and profit that had a significant impact on the lives of Native Americans and…

With the change of the plantation system between 1700 and 1830, the quality of life for the slaves increased significantly. Before the change in the system, a majority of slaves were young, African men who had been brought from Africa or the Caribbean to work on tiny, isolated farms. Most a slaves had no way of communicating with one another and had difficulty settling down in a family due to the lack of women on the farm. After the change in…

The United Fruit Company was established on 1899 in Central America, as the first U.S. company to take business in another country, portraying inequality between the authority figures, and its’ farming laborers. Few holding high charge positions of this company got rich while abusing and exploiting plantation workers who were in deplorable conditions while earning low wages. United Fruit kept gaining power by acquiring a wide number of lands and plantation in the vulnerable countries of Central…

The “Indians” Racism in this country has lived on throughout many generations and even centuries. In its early days this country went through slavery, and even the civil rights movement which segregated many blacks of the time. Racism, however, also was a part of this country before it even became a country and was known just as North America. In the Late 1400s Spanish settlers in search of the new world set off to explore and find new land. What these settlers were expecting, however, was that…

St. Martin/Maarten is an island located in the Caribbean Sea. The island was claimed by Spain in 1493 and occupied by the Dutch in 1631. Spain relinquished the island to the Dutch and the French in 1648, who divided the island into two different territories. The two territories have very different cultures. St. Maarten has a population of approx. 42,000 (World Factbook 2017) and is a constituent of the Netherlands. The Prime minister is William Marlin. Saint Martin has a population of approx. 32…

I just woke up from an incredibly vivid dream of Africa. I even had that feeling of freedom, of timelessness, in the dream, which might be the thing I miss most about Africa - that feeling of timelessness. In Kenya I was living in the present moment. I must admit that I was a little depressed to wake up from my dream to find myself back in this house in Orono, Maine. Not that I’m unhappy in my present life, but I still dream, both figuratively and literally, of living a simple existence in…