Objective 1: Location and Definition of the Caribbean Region and its Diaspora

What are the countries in the Greater Antilles?

Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico.

What are the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles?

Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Dominica.

What are the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles?

Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, and Guadeloupe.

Which territories make up the Bahamas group?

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

Name the mainland Caribbean territories

Guyana, Belize, Suriname, and French Guiana.

What are the main sub-regions of the Caribbean?

Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Bahamas, and Mainland Caribbean.

Where is the Caribbean located geographically?

Between North and South America, between 2°N and 24°N latitude, and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

What is an archipelago?

A chain of islands that are closely related geographically or geologically.

Do all Caribbean territories border the Caribbean Sea?

No, some like Barbados and The Bahamas do not.

What is the geographical definition of the Caribbean?

The Caribbean is defined as all territories located in and around the Caribbean Sea, based on physical location and natural features. It focuses on landforms and climate but excludes some territories that do not border the sea.

What is the geological definition of the Caribbean?

The Caribbean is defined based on the formation and structure of the earth’s crust, including plate tectonics and volcanic activity. It explains physical differences between territories but ignores cultural and historical similarities.

What is the historical definition of the Caribbean?

The Caribbean is defined as a region shaped by a shared history of migration, colonisation, imperialism, and labour systems. It is the most complete definition because it explains common social and cultural development.

What is the political definition of the Caribbean?

The Caribbean is defined based on systems of governance introduced through European colonisation. It explains the region’s political structures but does not fully address cultural unity.

What is the diasporic definition of the Caribbean?

The Caribbean is defined by the movement of people from Africa, Europe, and Asia, creating a culturally diverse society. It also includes the spread of Caribbean people globally but focuses mainly on migration.

Why is no single definition of the Caribbean complete?

Because each definition focuses on a different aspect—geography, geology, history, politics, or migration—and none fully captures all characteristics of the region.

Which definition of the Caribbean is the most complete and why?

The historical definition is the most complete because it includes migration, colonisation, labour systems, and cultural development, which shape all aspects of Caribbean society.