Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation located in the Caribbean Sea.

It is the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles. Cuba and Hispaniola are the only islands in that group larger than Jamaica. The island sits south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola. It is also southeast of the Cayman Islands, which are a British Overseas Territory. Jamaica is home to approximately 2.8 million people. This makes it the fourth most populous country in the Caribbean. Kingston serves as the nation's capital and its largest city.

The island's history began with indigenous peoples. The Redware people arrived around 600 CE. They were followed by the Taíno people around 800 CE. The Taíno likely came from South America. They called the island Xaymaca, meaning "Land of Wood and Water."

They lived in about 200 villages led by chiefs called caciques. These people practiced fishing and farming. At their peak, the Taíno population reached about 60,000 people. Most lived along the south coast near Old Harbour.

European contact changed the island forever. Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494 during his second voyage. He claimed the land for Spain.

The Spanish established their first settlement, Sevilla, in 1509. However, they abandoned it in 1524 because it was unhealthy. The capital later moved to Spanish Town, known as St. Jago de la Vega. During this era, many Taíno died from introduced diseases or enslavement. Consequently, the Spanish began importing enslaved Africans to the island. Some Africans escaped to the mountains. They formed independent communities known as Maroons.

England took control of Jamaica in 1655. Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables led the invasion.

After the conquest, the island became a key part of the British West Indies. The economy grew through a plantation system. This system focused on exporting sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo. The labor for these plantations came from enslaved Africans. By the early 19th century, black people outnumbered white people by nearly 20 to 1. The British government eventually abolished slavery in 1838. After emancipation, many freed people chose subsistence farming over plantation work. In the 1840s, the British brought Chinese and Indian indentured labourers to work the land.

Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. Today, it is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. This means the Parliament holds the power to govern. The Parliament is bicameral, meaning it has two parts. It consists of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives. Andrew Holness has been the Prime Minister since March 2016.

Jamaica is also a Commonwealth realm. The British King is the head of state. His appointed representative is the Governor-General. Patrick Allen has held this position since 2009.

The modern population is very diverse. Most Jamaicans have Sub-Saharan African ancestry. There are also significant minorities of European, East Asian, Indian, and Lebanese descent. Many Jamaicans live abroad in a large diaspora. This group is especially large in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Economically, Jamaica is an upper-middle-income country. Its economy relies heavily on tourism. About 4.3 million tourists visit the island every year.

Popular destinations include Montego Bay and the beaches in Negril.

Jamaica has a massive global cultural influence. It is the birthplace of the Rastafari religion. The island also created reggae music. This includes related genres like ska, dub, and dancehall.

The nation is also famous for world-class athletes. Jamaican runners are prominent in sprinting and athletics.

Even with its small size, Jamaica is often called a cultural superpower.