Early inhabitants had emigrated to the island from Central and South America
Taino people migrate to the area around 600, from South America
Taino’s establish villages and practice agriculture and fishing
Taino society flourishes, post 1000, growing cassava, maize and cotton
Trade with the other Caribbean Islands is common place
Jamaica is divided into small chiefdoms run by Caciques. These chiefdoms are structured politically and religiously
Around 600000 Taino inhabitants on the island circa 1400

Christopher Columbus lands in Jamaica in 1494 and claims it for Spain. Spanish settlers establish Sevilla la Nueva in 1509. Before relocating to Spanish Town in the 1530s
Taino population is decimated by enslavement, war and disease. Leading to their near-extinction
Spanish Jamaica has a small struggling population in the early 1600s. They rely on cattle ranches and have limited trade

Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables lead the English into seizing Jamaica from the spanish in 1655
Escaped African slaves begin to establish independent communities in the mountainous regions. The Treaty of Madrid (1670) formally gives over Jamaica to Britain
Port Royal and other areas are used as Pirate strongholds. Sugar plantations rule the economy, relying on slave labour
Tacky’s War slave rebellion errupts in 1760. Then the Baptist War (1831) and led by Sam Sharpe moves towards abolition
Slavery abolished by the British in 1834

Independenced gained in 1962. Jamaican culture has a large impact on the globe. Although crime and economic challenges persist