Definitions of the caribbean

The purpose of this presentation is to aid students' understanding of the region. The Caribbean is unique in that no single definition can be used to state what the region is. The presentation looks at its geological, geographical, historical and political definitions.

1. Defining The Caribbean

2. Objectives of this Lesson Identify and describe the four means by which the Caribbean is defined. Show how these definitions impact the people of the region.

3. Brief Glimpse of the Earth’s makeup In composition, the Earth is made of three parts.   At the center of the Earth, a body of intensely hot iron and nickel forms the core .  A less dense and much larger middle sphere is made of materials rich in iron , magnesium and calcium comprises the mantle .  The outermost layer is a thin veneer of lighter rocks called the crust .  The crust beneath the oceans is composed of heavy, dark volcanic rocks such as basalt .  Continental crust is composed mostly of lighter rocks rich in silica such as granite.

4. The crust is made up of continental plate.

5. The Caribbean falls between the north and South American and the Coco Plates

6. The Caribbean How would you define the Caribbean?

7. 1. Geological Definition of the Caribbean

8. The Geological Caribbean is not widely used as a means of defining the region. It however shows that there are deep seated structural features which identify commonalities. It is defined by the Caribbean Plate and experiences similar tectonic, seismic and volcanic features and processes.

9. The Caribbean is situated in a geologic feature known as the Caribbean Plate which has boundaries or margins with other plates nearby. A plate is a large piece of crust (on which there may be both land and ocean) and it moves in relation to other plates. On the whole the earth is made up of six or seven plates and many smaller ones. The Caribbean Plate is a small plate.

10. Geological commonalities Earthquakes – the region is in a known earthquake zone. Hurricane – the region experiences hurricanes yearly from June 1 – Nov. 30 Volcanic activities – especially in the Lesser Antilles (the basis of their formation)

11. Diagram of a Volcano

12. Diagram of how an earthquake operates FOCUS - The point within the earth where the actual fault slip occurs, causing the release of earthquake energy. It may be at the surface of the earth, or many miles below the earth's surface. When a fault slips, the waves radiate in all directions.

13. Diagram of how an earthquake operates EPICENTER - The point on the surface of the earth that is directly above the focus. Once the earthquake energy reaches the epicenter, it travels along the surface of the earth in all directions. It can cause waves on the surface of the earth that will vary in amplitude depending on the composition of the earth surface.

14. 2. The Geographical Caribbean

15. This describes the area washed by the Caribbean Sea and is often described as the Caribbean Basin

16. The Geographical Caribbean It would therefore include most of the islands of the Lesser and Greater Antilles as well as the mainland territories of Central America and Northern South America such as Venezuela and Columbia .

17. Red Marks The Spot

18. The Historical Caribbean This describe the area that saw the impact of European colonization, slavery, indentureship and the plantation system . This refers to all the territories, so that one means by which we can define the Caribbean is by identifying those countries that experienced the rule of specific European countries, namely the English , French, Dutch and the Spanish. The common feature in this definition is that they share the same historical or cultural experiences.

19. LEGEND ENGLISH SPANISH FRENCH DUTCH

20. The legend indicates the territories that were under the control of the various European powers. It should be noted that Guyana (which was first under Dutch control, then English), Surinam (which was under Dutch control) and French Guiana (which is STILL under French control) are not represented in the previous slide. They are a part of the Caribbean because they share the same historical/cultural experiences as all those which are represented.

21. The Political Caribbean The Caribbean has three main government systems , namely: Independent States – these are former colonies which are now self-governing. These are islands which have chosen a method of governance that is different from that of their colonial masters, namely democracy or communism;

22. The Political Caribbean Associated States – these are territories which are not independent but enjoy all the rights and privileges of the country that governs it; Colonial Dependencies – these ate territories which are directly governed by other countries but do not enjoy the rights and privileges that’s enjoyed by inhabitants in an Associated State.

23. LEGEND Independent States Associated State Colonial Territories

24. Problems defining the Caribbean Geographical Historical Geological 1 Guyana and the Bahamas do not have coastlines on the Caribbean Sea. Yet both countries are commonly accepted as part of the Caribbean The “problem” with defining the “Caribbean” according to linguistic or European heritage, is that, that tends to ignore the commonalities of Caribbean experience at the hands of these colonial powers. The western edge of the Caribbean Plate is located in the Pacific and includes Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama in the Caribbean. 2 This definition includes countries not normally associated with the “Caribbean” – Panama, Columbia and the other countries of Central America. This definition would include Guyana and the Bahamas. It should also include the French, Dutch and Spanish speaking countries of the Caribbean and Central America. This definition would include Guyana and the Bahamas. It should also include the French, Dutch and Spanish speaking countries of the Caribbean and Central America.

25. THE END