Defining The Caribbean

Objectives of this Lesson

1. Identify and describe the four means by

which the Caribbean is defined.

2. Show how these definitions impact the

people of the region.
 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.
The crust is made up of continental
plate.
The Caribbean falls between the north and
South American and the Coco Plates
 How would you define
the Caribbean?

The Caribbean
1. Geological Definition of the Caribbean
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.
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.
 Geological commonalities
1. Earthquakes – the region is in a known
earthquake zone.
2. Hurricane – the region experiences
hurricanes yearly from June 1 – Nov. 30
3. Volcanic activities – especially in the Lesser
Antilles (the basis of their formation)
Diagram of a Volcano
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.
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.
2. The Geographical Caribbean
This describes the area washed by the
Caribbean Sea and is often described as the
Caribbean Basin
 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.
Red Marks The Spot
 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.
LEGEND

ENGLISH

SPANISH

FRENCH

DUTCH
 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.
 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;
 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.
 LEGEND
Independent
States

Associated
State

Colonial
Territories
 Problems defining the Caribbean
Geographical Historical Geological
1 Guyana and the The “problem” with The western edge of the
Bahamas do not have defining the “Caribbean” Caribbean Plate is located
coastlines on the according to linguistic or in the Pacific and includes
Caribbean Sea. Yet both European heritage, is Honduras, Costa Rica,
countries are commonly that, that tends to ignore Nicaragua and Panama in
accepted as part of the the commonalities of the Caribbean.
Caribbean Caribbean experience at
the hands of these
colonial powers.

2 This definition includes This definition would This definition would

countries not normally include Guyana and the include Guyana and the
associated with the Bahamas. It should also Bahamas. It should also
“Caribbean” – Panama, include the French, Dutch include the French, Dutch
Columbia and the other and Spanish speaking and Spanish speaking
countries of Central countries of the countries of the
America. Caribbean and Central Caribbean and Central
America. America.