IMPORTANT DATES

1000-1200 A.C. Caribbean tribes coming from South America in canoes, sailed north along the Little Antilles, and replaced original inhabitants, the Arawaks
1493 and 1498 Christopher Columbus is the first European to discover the Little Antilles islands

Colonization: XVI and XVII
Europeans migrate massively to the New World, taking slaves with them
1535 The Spaniards use Prince Rupert harbor, in Dominica, as refuge for their ships.
1592 The Spaniards establish Little Antilles. Foundation of the city of San Jose, which three years after is destroyed by Sir Walter Raleigh.
1623 The British establish their first colony in St. Kitts. Barbados (1625), Antigua (1632), Anguilla (1650) and the British Virgin Islands (1680) followed.
1632 An Irish Catholic community establishes in the island of Montserrat
1634-1636 The Dutch fleet takes the ABC Islands. They establish their first colonies in
St. Eustatius (1636) and Saba (1640)
1635 The French colonize Guadeloupe and Martinique. In 1650 they buy the island of Grenada from the locals.
1648 With the Concord treaty, St. Martin is divided in French (north), and Dutch (south).

Plantations and Slavery: XVII and XVIII centuries
Most of the islands are full of sugar cane plantations. A new aristocracy emerges, formed by plantation owners. At the end of the XVII century, sugar is the absolute king of the region
1638-1779 Slave trade in Curacao flourishes, and are sold for labor in sugar plantations
1675-1695 Slaves riot in Barbados. Leaders are executed. 
1690 an earthquake devastates St. Kitts and Nevis.
1704 European countries declare Tobago, neutral island, converting it into a pirate base. 1725 Due to the appearance of leprosy in Guadeloupe, a hospital to treat this disease is opened in La Desirade.
1754 St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix are declared Kingdom of Denmark’s colonies, and are named as Danish West Indies.
1765 The Botanical Gardens of St. Vincent are founded.
1775-1783 After the American Independence, commercial embargoes caused starvation in the Little Antilles.
1779 The crisis of the European financial markets caused the decline of sugar production in the islands.
1780-1790 The British introduced in Grenada the nutmeg that, alongside cacao, becomes the first product of the islands
1784 France gives the rights of St Barthélémy to Sweden in exchange for commercial rights.
1793 Captain Bligh takes bread tree seeds on the Bounty, from Tahiti to St. Vincent.
1797 The British expel more than 5,000 black Caribbeans, accused of rebellion, from
St. Vincent.

Reforms and Rebellions: 1802-1902
During the first half of the XIX century, the Caribbean witnessed many slave revolts demanding freedom.
1802 The Amiens peace treaty granted the United Kingdom, Trinidad’s sovereignty.
1816 The British administrate St. Vincent, Nevis, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands as one colony. 5,000 slaves, under the leadership of Bussa, rebel in Barbados.
1828-1845 The Danish West Indies are ruled from Surinam.
1834 The Emancipation Law “frees” the British West Indies’ slaves. France in 1848 and the Netherlands in 1863 followed them. After abolition of slavery, a system of “apprentices” is introduced.
1845-1917 Thousands of Asians, especially from India, arrive to Trinidad as work force.
1848 The slave rebellion in St. Croix takes abolition of slavery to the Danish West Indies 1878 Sweden gives back St. Barthélémy to France.
1888 Tobago joins Trinidad politically.
1902 In Martinique, Mount Pelee volcano erupts and destroys the capital, St. Pierre.

Independence: 1914-1983
After the bigger islands achieve their independence from the United Kingdom, many small ones follow them, though not all.
1917 The Danish West Indies are sold to America, and used as naval bases.
1917-1924 Oil refineries are built in Curacao and Aruba.
1946 The French islands are converted in French Departments.
1951 The United Kingdom grants the people of their colonies the universal vote right.
1954 The Dutch islands obtained autonomy for internal affairs, and in 1986 Aruba separates.
1958 A Scotsman, lord Glenconner, buys Mustique, in the Grenadines.
1958-1962 The Federation of the British West Indies is constituted
1966 Barbados obtains independence.
1967 The British colonies become associated states of the United Kingdom.
1969 The British invasion of Anguilla is supported by the population. This island became officially territory of the United Kingdom in 1980.
1973 The CARICOM is founded, meaning Caribbean Community.
1974 Grenada is the first of the Associated States to obtain their independence. 
1976 Trinidad becomes an independent Republic within the Commonwealth.
1978 Dominica achieves independence. A year later St. Lucia does the same.
1979 St. Vincent and the Grenadines achieve independence April 13, Good Friday. The eruption of La Soufrière causes great damage in the region. A group of Marxist-Leninists led by Maurice Bishop take over in Grenada.
1981 Antigua & Barbuda obtain independence, and join to form one nation. The same occurs two years later with St. Kitts & Nevis.
1983 In Grenada, the confuse execution of Maurice Bishop by extremists, gives the US the perfect excuse to intervene.

Recent Years: 1983 -1998
Corruption and natural disasters caused great damage in the region.
1985 In Aruba, the Exxon refinery closes, with disastrous effect on economy.
1987 Waters around Saba are converted in a Marine Park.
1989 and 1995 Hurricane Hugo first, and Luis and Marilyn later, cause great damage in the Caribbean.
1990 A weapons traffic scandal involves Antigua Prime Minister. Islamic fundamentalists try to overthrow Trinidad’s government.
1992 Writer Derek Walcott, from St. Lucia, is granted the Nobel Prize of Literature.
1993-1995 Money Operation takes place in Anguilla, and many international weapon and drug smugglers are captured.
1994 Tropical storm Debbie punishes the Caribbean. Corruption scandals continue among political classes in St. Kitts and Nevis.
1995 Basdeo Panday is elected as Trinidad’s Prime Minister.
1995- 1998 Volcanic activity in Montserrat reaches its climax, with three eruptions that devastated the capital, Plymouth, killing 19 people. The island remains on red alert all year 1998.
1998 The Caribbean Forum, presided by the British Foreign Minister, Robin Cook, promises help to fight against drug smuggling.
July 1998 Residents of the British Overseas Territories are promised British citizenship.