Definitions of the caribbean

DefiningTheCaribbean

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.

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

The Caribbean
How would you define 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
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)

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

THE END

Definitions of the caribbean

by Deighton Gooden on Oct 31, 2010

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Definitions of the caribbean Presentation Transcript