The Caribbean in the Wider World, 1492-1992: A Regional Geography
(Part of the Geography of the World-Economy Series)
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Book Overview
On the eve of the quincentenary of Christopher Columbus's epic voyage, this major new textbook survey explains how the region's present geography is intimately tied to the past. The Caribbean was Europe's first colony, its landscapes transformed to produce tropical staples and its decimated aboriginal populace replaced with African slaves. As European power has waned in the Caribbean, it has been replaced by the geopolitical domination of the United States. Professor Richardson examines this colonisation and recolonisation of the Caribbean during the past half millennium, portraying a region victimised by natural hazards, soil erosion, over population and gunboat diplomacy. Most importantly, he explains the ways in which Caribbean peoples have reacted and adapted to their external influences. No other single survey of the region provides equivalent breadth - ranging from aboriginal ecologies to today's narcotic traffic - or harnesses so effectively elements of the past to illuminate the present.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0521359775
ISBN13:9780521359771
Release Date:January 1992
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Length:252 Pages
Weight:0.88 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Related Subjects
Americas Business & Investing Caribbean & West Indies Earth Sciences Economic Conditions Economics Geography History Human Geography Humanities Political Economy Political Science Politics & Government Politics & Social Sciences Popular Economics Regional Science Science & Math Science & Scientists Science & Technology Social Science Social Sciences WorldCustomer Reviews
1 rating
500 years of mostly difficult history
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
In this short treatise, Richardson spans 500 years of development in the Caribbean. The emphasis is on an economic description of the history. The political events are given short shrift. There is a detailed look at slavery as instituted by the European powers. Mostly to grow sugar cane. The discussion is rather dry, and does not stray into the egregrious violations of human rights engendered by the transportation of hundreds of thousands from Africa to toil in the Caribbean. Later, we see the development of other crops, especially bananas. Accompanied by decolonisation, but with the massive influence of the United States, especially through various multinationals. One common theme is that the region was simply too small in terms of people and resources to be fully independent. The history of the region is also largely of the influence of greater external powers. There is also an account of the recent migrations within the Caribbean and to the US and Britain, giving rise to an Afro-Caribbean diaspora.
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