Caribbean Studies Notes 1-3
Caribbean Studies Notes 1-3
Caribbean Studies Notes 1-3
Before we can attempt a meaningful study of the society and culture of the
Caribbean, it is necessary to define and locate the region we will be studying.
Usually, a peoples location can be given with reference to some physical or
geographical feature, such as water that surrounds them or a mountain range that
separates them from another people. You may come to find that in trying to define
and locate the Caribbean, we may have to evaluate the part played by culture and
society, as well as physical and geographical boundaries as dimensions that define
and locate the region.
The traditional geographic definition for the Caribbean tends to read something like
lands washed by the Caribbean Sea Is this really true? Are all the countries
washed by the Caribbean Sea recognized as part of the Caribbean? Another
definition names the region after the islands of the West Indies (why was West
Indies used in the first place?). We can also define the Caribbean using coordinates
such as lines of latitude and longitude to locate the region.
The Caribbean is said to stretch from a longitude of 60 degrees west to 85 degrees
west (approx). studying the map of the Caribbean will also show the region as
stretching from near the Equator to beyond 25 degrees north. This northernmost
limit is debatable and is sometimes extended to 30 degrees north to include
Bermuda. Basically this means that even geographically, the idea of a Caribbean
basin (lands washed by the Caribbean Sea) and even the coordinates of latitude and
longitude are interpreted subjectively.
It is also possible to identify subregions because the region is so large. The Greater
Antilles are the larger islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, while the
Lesser Antilles subregion is further subdivided into the Windward and Leeward
Islands.
The map also shows the main territories, islands, archipelagos, subregions and
water bodies found in the Caribbean. (an archipelago is a chain of islands
usually closely related at a subterranean level. For example, the Lesser
Antilles forms a chain of small islands that exhibit similar volcanic
Activity
Study your map of the Caribbean. Is Belize part of the Caribbean? Would you
consider the Pacific Ocean to be part of the environs of the Caribbean? (look how
close the Pacific Ocean is to the Caribbean at the isthmus of Panama) an isthmus
is a narrow neck of land separating two water bodies.
Can the Caribbean really be defined solely from a geographic perspective?
Consider this
What conclusions can be drawn from the information provided? How can we arrive
at a more comprehensive definition of the Caribbean?