History of Barbados
Barbados, an island country in the Caribbean, has a rich and complex history shaped by Indigenous cultures, European colonization, African slavery, and eventual independence.
- Pre-Colonial Period
Original Inhabitants: The earliest known inhabitants were the Amerindian peoples, including the Arawaks and later the Caribs, who arrived from South America.
These Indigenous groups lived by fishing, farming, and trading, and they called the island Ichirouganaim.
- European Discovery and Colonization
Portuguese Arrival (1536): The Portuguese briefly visited and named the island Barbados (meaning “bearded ones,” possibly referring to the fig trees’ hanging roots or the Carib men’s beards) but did not settle.
English Settlement (1627): The English established the first permanent European settlement. Barbados quickly became a British colony.
- Sugar and Slavery (17th–19th Century)
Sugar Plantations: By the mid-1600s, sugarcane became the dominant crop, making Barbados one of the richest colonies in the Caribbean.
African Slavery: Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to work on the plantations, leading to a population that was overwhelmingly of African descent.
The plantation economy created a wealthy elite class and entrenched racial and social divisions.
- Emancipation and Social Change
Abolition of Slavery (1834): Slavery was officially abolished throughout the British Empire, including Barbados.
Post-Emancipation Struggles: Freed slaves faced economic hardship and limited political power; plantation owners retained most of the land and wealth.
- Move Toward Independence
Early 20th Century: Political movements emerged demanding greater rights for the majority Black population.
Grantley Adams and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) played key roles in the push for reform.
Internal Self-Government (1961): Barbados gained full internal self-rule from Britain.
- Independence and Modern Era
Independence (1966): On November 30, 1966, Barbados became an independent nation within the Commonwealth with Errol Barrow as its first Prime Minister.
Republic Status (2021): On November 30, 2021, Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and became a parliamentary republic, with Dame Sandra Mason as its first president.
Today
Barbados is a stable democracy with a strong cultural identity and economy based on tourism, services, and manufacturing. It plays an active role in regional and international organizations.
