Masterpiece

1. CLASS TIME!!!!
LESSONS FOR CAPE CARIBBEAN STUDIES
MELISSA BECKFORD-SIMPSON

2. CAPE CARIBBEAN STUDIES
• Subject: CAPE Caribbean Studies
• Module Title: Caribbean Society and Culture
• Lesson Topic: Introduction/ Locating and Defining the
Caribbean
• Goal of lesson: The goal of the lesson is to introduce the subject of
Caribbean Studies. We will speak to the nature of the subject, outline
of the requirements and give a brief overview of the exam structure.

3. OBJECTIVES
• Define the subject Caribbean Studies
• Explain the requirements and structure of the subject
• Locate and delineate the Caribbean region
• Define the Caribbean using: Geography, geology, history, political, diasporic
• Briefly explain the reasons for and advantages and disadvantages of the
different definitions of the Caribbean
• Arrive at a suitable, inclusive and comprehensive definition of the Caribbean

4. CARIBBEAN STUDIES
• Caribbean Studies is a multi-disciplinary subject area, that is, it draws from
History, Sociology, Geography, Economics, amongst others. The aim of the
subject is to educate the Caribbean student about the region from which
he/she originates while fostering a sense of ‘Caribbeanness’. Students will
develop a sense of their roles and responsibilities as Caribbean citizens when
there is an understanding of the factors that have shaped the region and the
challenges it continues to face in its quest for development.

5. CARIBBEAN STUDIES
IS A
READING SUBJECT

6. STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
The subject is a fundamental part of the CAPE programme and has 3
modules.
• Module 1- Caribbean Society and Culture
• Module 2- Issues in Caribbean Development
• Module 3- Investigating Issues in Caribbean

7. STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
• Paper 01- Multiple Choice- 45 questions
• Paper 02- Essay Paper- 4 compulsory questions
• SBA- Independent Study (40%)

8. LOCATING THE CARIBBEAN
• Locating and defining the Caribbean is a problematic task.
• The most popular definition of the Caribbean is usually one that
depends on geography, particularly the feature called the Caribbean
Basin where the territories are ‘washed’ by the Caribbean Sea
• Trying to locate the Caribbean based on this feature however, does
not adequately capture what encapsulates the Caribbean.

9. LOCATING AND DEFINING USING
GEOGRAPHY
Anomalies
• This definition does not include Barbados and Guyana that are in the
Atlantic Ocean.
• Belize is very much considered a part of the Caribbean yet it is not
washed by the Caribbean Sea
• There are other areas that are “washed’ by the Caribbean Sea that
are not included in the Caribbean at all- Mexico, Honduras, Panama,
Nicaragua

10. LOCATING AND DEFINING USING
GEOGRAPHY

11. LOCATING AND DEFINING USING
GEOGRAPHY
Lines of latitude and longitude
• Longitude- 60◦W to 85◦W (East to West of the Greenwich
Meridian)
• Latitude- 5◦N (Guyana) to beyond 25◦N
• Sometimes this is extended to 30◦N to include Bermuda.

12. LOCATING AND DEFINING USING
GEOGRAPHY
Shortcomings/Anomalies
• The lines of latitude and longitude include countries that are not
considered to be Caribbean on the mainland of South America.
• The lines of latitude, even at 25◦N, includes the tip of Florida
(United States)
• Stretching the lines as far as 30◦N, to include Bermuda also raise
red flags since Bermuda is not generally felt to be Caribbean by
the rest of the Caribbean, neither does the country itself, identify
with.

13. GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
• The Caribbean region is made up of
• islands, mainland countries
• Archipelagos
• Water bodies- Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico (Pacific
Ocean is part of the environs)
• Sub regions- Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, (Windward, Leeward)
• Wider Caribbean- Honduras,
NB: Trying to be very specific in delineating the Caribbean geographically
leads us into all kind of exceptions and anomalies?

14. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN USING
GEOLOGY
The Caribbean may also be defined using Plate Tectonics ie. In terms of
its seismic and tectonic activities.
• Tectonic- refers to plate movements
• Seismic- movements in the earth that affect the surface
• The defining feature here is the Caribbean Plate and its interaction
with other plates like the North American Plate, South American Plate
• Volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain building are hinged on the
movements of plates

15. THE GEOLOGICAL CARIBBEAN

16. THE GEOLOGICAL CARIBBEAN

17. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
GEOLOGICALLY
Shortcomings/Anomalies
• The Western Edge of the Caribbean Plate is in the Pacific Ocean
• This definition does not include Bahamas, Guyana and Cuba
• The average individual does not understand the concept of plate
tectonics and may not in fact be able to identify with this definition.

18. THE POLITICAL DEFINITION OF THE
CARIBBEAN
• The Caribbean is not a single political entity- it is a long-held dream.
• A mixture of entities at varying stages of political development/
autonomy
• Generally made up of territories that are former colonies of European
powers- French, British, Dutch, Spanish
• Caricom is sometimes used as a unifying feature in this definition- it
does not include all territories

19. THE POLITICAL DEFINITION OF THE
CARIBBEAN
Independent States
• Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Belize, Guyana, St. Lucia, Grenada
NB: While these countries are independent there are several differences
in governance structure
• Communist- Cuba
• Republics- Trinidad, Guyana
• Constitutional Monarchies- Jamaica, Grenada etc.

20. THE POLITICAL DEFINITION OF THE
CARIBBEAN
Non-Independent States
• Plebisite/Unincorporated Territory/ Associated State- Puerto Rico, US
Virgin Islands
• Dependencies- French & British
French departments- Guadeloupe, Martinique, Cayenne (French
Guiana), St. Martin
British Dependencies- British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Cayman Islands,
Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla

21. THE POLITICAL DEFINITION OF THE
CARIBBEAN
Dependent States
• Colonies/ Netherland Antilles- Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, St.
Maarten.
• These territories are directly ruled by the Dutch government. The Dutch
Monarch is the head of state but there is no Prime Minister.
• A governor administers affairs on behalf of the Monarchy
• Suriname was a part of this group but is now a fully independents state.

22. THE CASE OF HAITI
• The first independent black republic after a long and protracted struggle called the
Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)
• Its History however is fraught with political turmoil beginning from their
independence.
• A series of dictators have helped to plunder the country and to leave them in a
state of dependency, although independent.
• Haiti is a member of Caricom but is economically unstable and continues to
fight for independence in all its forms.

23. CARICOM MEMBER STATES

24. USING THE DIASPORIC DEFINITION
• The Caribbean diaspora refers to the millions of people who originate
from or are descendants of the region but who make their homeland
in other parts of the world.
• United States- Florida, New York, Georgia
• Britain- London
• Canada- Toronto
• China, Japan- exchange and employment programmes

25. USING THE DIASPORIC DEFINITION
• Notting Hill is a district in West London, home to a large Caribbean
diaspora
• On the last Sunday and Monday in August every year (the Monday is a
summer public holiday in the United Kingdom)a major Caribbean-style
carnival is held. Street food, dancing, musical performances of all
kinds, parading steel bands (and a steelpan competition),wonderful
costumes and a multifarious procession of floats show the people of
London how its Caribbean diaspora can celebrate their culture and
roots

26. USING THE DIASPORIC DEFINITION

27. VIDEO
BREAK

28. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY
• The historical definition acknowledges the shared history of the
Caribbean territories and their experiences with
• Migration
• Colonisation
• Enslavement
• Resistance
• Struggle for enfranchisement and independence

29. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY
Migrations
• The Indigenous groupings- Taino (Greater Antilles), Kalinago (Lesser Antilles)
Maya (Belize)

30. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY
Migrations
• Whites- British, French, Spanish Dutch, Danish, Scottish, Irish, Welsh
• Blacks- West Africa
• Indentured Workers- Chinese, Indians, Madeirans, Syrians, Javanese
(Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica)

31. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY

32. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY
• This shared history of enslavement and colonialism is perhaps a more
inclusive definition of the Caribbean than any other.
• To one extent or the other, regardless of the European power, all
Caribbean territories have experienced these phenomena.
• This has helped to foster an affinity with each other in the region.

33. DEFINING THE CARIBBEAN
HISTORICALLY

34. A COMPREHENSIVE, INCLUSIVE
DEFINITION OF THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean is a melting pot of islands and mainland territories at
various stages of independence and development, lying
approximately between 5◦ and 25◦ N of the Equator; 60◦ and 85◦ West
of the Greenwich Meridian generally sharing a history of migration,
colonialism, enslavement and resistance.

35. DISCUSSION POINT
How Caribbean do
you feel?

36. PAST PAPER CHALLENGE
Describe what is meant by having a ‘Caribbean
identity’ and show how and why that concept
varies from place to place within the
Caribbean and its diaspora.
(20 marks)

37. NEXT CLASS
The Historical Process
of the Caribbean

38. THE END