What did Martinique used to be called?

Island of Flowers
Coming to the island in 1502, Columbus gave it the name Martinique. Indigenous Carib islanders called it Madiana or Madinina (“Island of Flowers”), designations still used informally in song and poetry.

Was there slavery in Martinique?

Martinique’s history is deeply rooted in slavery and in sugar production. The first slaves arrived to the island in 1605 due to a shipwreck, and the trade was most active between 1725 and 1760. In total, about 216 000 enslaved Africans were brought to the island between the years 1500 and 1848.

What were Caribbean slaves called?

Maroons
Maroons were formerly enslaved people who had managed to escape slavery and form new communities. The system of slavery began to be dismantled in the early 19th century. The enslaved people were given their freedom – or ’emancipated’ – in the British Caribbean in the 1830s.

Who abolished slavery in Martinique?

In February 1848, François Auguste Perrinon became head of the Committee of Colonists of Martinique. He was a member of the Commission for the abolition of slavery, led by Victor Schœlcher. On April 27, Schœlcher obtained a decree abolishing slavery in the French Empire.

Is Martinique poor?

Martinique is a small island in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. This insular region of France has a population of 385,551. Partly to blame for the rise in poverty in Martinique is the global drop in fuel prices from 2008 to the present. …

What is the most important fruit of Martinique?

The varieties in Martinique are: pineapple “Hawaii”, the best known and most cultivated in Martinique, its golden yellow very juicy flesh is sweet to the palate.

Where did the slaves in Martinique come from?

When sugar prices rose, sugarcane was established as the main crop and slaves were brought over from Africa to work in the fields. In fact, during its peak, 16% of Martinique’s population was African, as the slave population rose to 60,000 by 1736. It was ultimately the French government that abolished slavery in 1848.

Who was Martinique colonized by?

Neglected by the Spaniards, who sought more material rewards than those the island offered, Martinique was occupied in 1635 by a Frenchman, Pierre Bélain, sieur (lord) d’Esnambuc, who established 80 settlers at Fort-Saint-Pierre at the mouth of the Roxelane River.

How did slavery begin in the Caribbean?

Between 1662 and 1807 Britain shipped 3.1 million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Africans were forcibly brought to British owned colonies in the Caribbean and sold as slaves to work on plantations.

What race of people live in Martinique?

The majority of Martinique’s population is of African heritage, mixed with some French, Carib Indian, Indo-Martiniquas (descendants of 19th century Indian immigrants), Lebanese, and Chinese. It’s estimated the ethnic groups of Martinique break down as: 80% African/African-white-Indian mix. 10% Indo-Martiniquais.

What is the main religion in Martinique?

The great majority of the population is Roman Catholic; there are smaller numbers of Protestants (mostly Seventh-day Adventists), other Christians, and adherents of other religions.

When did Napoleon end the slave trade in Martinique?

In 1813, a hurricane killed 3,000 people in Martinique. During Napoleon’s 100 Days in 1815, he abolished the slave trade. At the same time the British briefly re-occupied Martinique.

What was the relationship between the French and the Martiniquans?

Ever since, a strong theme of Martiniquan culture has been creolization or interaction between the French colonial settlers, known locally as békés, and the Africans they imported. For over two hundred years, slavery, and slave revolts, would be a major influence on the economy and politics of the island.

Who are the original inhabitants of the island of Martinique?

This is a page on the history of the island of Martinique . The island was originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples. Circa 130 AD, the first Arawaks are believed to have arrived from South America. In 295 A.D, an eruption of Mount Pelée resulted in the decimation of the island’s population.

When did indentured laborers first arrive in Martinique?

Indentured laborers from India started to arrive in Martinique in 1853. Plantation owners recruited the Indians to replace the slaves, who once free, had fled the plantations. This led to the creation of the small but continuing Indian community in Martinique.