Jamaica: An Island in the Caribbean Sea
Jamaica is an island located in the Caribbean Sea. It is the third-largest island in the Caribbean and is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) south of Cuba. The island is about 4,244 square kilometers (1,638 square miles) in area. The population of Jamaica is about 2.9 million people.
The island of Jamaica was originally inhabited by the Arawak and Taino people. The Arawak were the first to arrive on the island, around 600 BCE. The Taino arrived around 1200 CE. Both groups were displaced by the arrival of the Spaniards in 1494.
The Spaniards began to import African slaves to work on their plantations. The English took control of the island in 1655. They also brought in African slaves to work on plantations.
The Jamaican people fought for their independence from the British in the early 1800s. They were successful in 1838 when slavery was abolished. Jamaica became a British colony in 1866.
The Jamaican people fought again for their independence in the 1950s and 1960s. They were successful in 1962 when Jamaica became an independent nation.
The island of Jamaica is a beautiful place. It has a diverse culture and a rich