Knowing the history of the Caribbean region goes a long way toward understanding its people. Each island has a unique cultural identity shaped by the European colonialists, the African heritage of slaves, and the enduring legacies of the native Indian tribes. This rich history and its lasting influence is set against a backdrop of crystal clear waters and perpetual sunshine.
Although not largely written about, Caribbean culture has arguably been preserved more by the authentic voices of "intuitive scholars": artists, farmers, merchants, and traders--educationally deprived, perhaps, but quite learned in the cultural heritage of the island nations. They are the region's best oral historians and cultural preservationists.
The Caribbean lifestyle is undoubtedly a product of its tropical setting. The music, architecture, attitudes and customs have all, in some way, been shaped by the physical landscape and climate. The cultures of the Caribbean countries are a blend of colonial mainstays and pervasive influences by major ethnic groups of the region such as East Indians and Africans.
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