The indigenous people living on the island of Jamaica, Amerindians called "Taino," were being invaded and attacked by the Kalina people (a war-like people whom Columbus called "Caribs") at the time that Columbus landed on the island during his second voyage to the New World in 1494. The Taino were a peaceful people who grew cassava, sweet potatoes, guava, pineapple, sweetsop, star apple, vegetables, cotton and tobacco, and supplied hammocks and cotton cloth to neighboring islands (Cuba and Haiti). They left paintings on walls of island caves and were superb stoneworkers.

On nearby Cuba, the indigenous people called the island "Xaymaca," which is translated by some as "land of wood and water" or "the land of blessed gold." However, Jamaica had no gold, which Columbus discovered after clashing with some of the native Taino population. Nevertheless, he claimed the island for Spain, and Jamaica was governed by Spain until the British seized the poorly defended island in the mid 1600's. 

Spanish colonists began to arrive in Jamaica in 1510 and used Taino labor to grow their crops of sugar cane, bananas, citrus, and coconut. Spanish colonists also imported cattle, horses and swine. In a short time the Tainos died from overwork and exposure to European diseases, so by 1517 Spaniards started bringing black slaves from Africa to work their plantations. Today African slaves’ ancestors make up the majority of Jamaica’s population. 

For centuries, Jamaica was repeatedly attacked and raided by France, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and English sailing vessels. It was also a haven for pirates. As a Spanish colony, Jamaica was a disappointment. With few natural resources needed by Spain, the island’s usefulness was merely as a supply base for Spain to conquer other lands in the New World.

During the second half of the 18th century, now under British rule, Jamaica became a valuable colonial possession, primarily because of its sugar production. The island's cattle, logging and coffee also brought relative prosperity to Jamaica. However, instability and conflict on the island were ever-present. Former slaves fought civil wars against the colonial militia and plantation owners. 

In 1804 Jamaica became an independent state but did not become fully independent from Great Britain until 1962. By 1838 all Jamaican slaves were freed from working on the plantations, and many went to other countries such as Cuba and the American mainland to find work. With the new shortage of labor, sugar production dropped sharply and Jamaica’s prosperity declined. In an effort to combat the lagging economy, Jamaica turned to bauxite mining and tourism to replace banana and sugar exportation. During the 1950's and 1960's Jamaica enjoyed relative prosperity but as the rural unskilled labor population moved into the cities, they brought overcrowding and high unemployment rates.

 Truly a nation "out of many, one people," Jamaica is a multifaceted mosaic of international customs and traditions. Traditions of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have helped to shape the culture, creating something that is uniquely Jamaican.

Religion is a central part of the lives of most Jamaicans, and most religious-minded Jamaicans are happy to have you join them in worship. If you go to a meeting however, first inquire about etiquette and then be prepared to meet welcoming Jamaicans and witness first-hand the power of their belief. Jamaica has numerous forms of European and African forms of worship blended into Christianity, as well as unique belief systems such as Rastafari. 

The island boasts more churches per square mile than any other country. A Jamaican church service experience reflects the island’s important multi-cultural traditions. The options range from the formal traditional services of Christian churches, such as the ones held at historic parish churches, to non-traditional services that take place just about anywhere: under huge circus-style tents, along riverbanks or in small one-room chapels and large modern worship halls. 

Rastafarianism is a local Jamaican religious movement that started in the 1930's. The Rasta doctrine condemns Jamaica's colonial society and espouses that repatriation to Africa is the key to overcoming oppression. They advocate non-violence and worship Haile Selassie I (1930–1974) as their divine Messiah. Today Rastas are a positive cultural force, contributing to Jamaica's art and music, especially reggae.

 Jamaica is made up of coastal lowlands, a limestone plateau, and the Blue Mountains, a group of volcanic hills in the east. The island is an ecological treasure trove of mountains, wetlands, beaches and coral reefs. Over 252 species of birds can be found in Jamaica. Of these, 27 are found nowhere else, including the national bird—the streamer-tailed Hummingbird or "Doctor Bird." The island has three national parks: Montego Bay Marine Park, The Blue Mountain and John Crow National Park and the Negril Watershed.

With a year-round temperature of 80°, Jamaica's balmy weather brings a steady supply of tourists. The coolest months are November to April, and the rainiest are May to June and September to October. At times, evenings can get quite chilly.

 Jamaican handicrafts such as pottery, woodwork, straw goods and beadwork can be purchased at local markets and roadside craft stalls throughout the island.

Jamaican music today is heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues styles, calypso and reggae. In the late 1970's, one reggae musician in particular, Bob Marley, became an international superstar and was very influential on the Jamaican music scene. As his music came to symbolize Rasta values and beliefs, Marley played a catalytic role in the Rastafarian movement worldwide. His popularity gave to a diverse audience Rasta messages and concepts, and his music captured the essence of Rasta and Jamaican ideologies. A reggae music festival is held every summer at Montego Bay that attracts crowds from North America, Europe and Asia. 

Jamaican Carnival is a weeklong spring festival that is based on the Trinidad Carnival. It includes costumed street parades and artists. Festival occurs during the annual Independence Day celebrations (August 6) as painters, singers, woodcarvers, sculptors, musicians, photographers and chefs compete for prizes and honors. 

The 140-year old Jamaican theatrical genre called “Pantomime” has been a Christmas-season tradition in Jamaica since the 1940's. Jamaican Pantomime is a raucous display of song and dance that commemorates the island’s history and culture while satirizing current events and popular figures. 

Jamaican cuisine is as diverse as its people. It is a pungent blend of African, Chinese, Indian and European cuisines. Some island specialties include jerk pork, salt fish, boiled green bananas, fried plantains, Johnny cakes (fried flour dumplings named after the English “journey cakes”), bammies (flat round breads made from cassava flour), callaloo (a leafy spinach-like vegetable), cho-cho (chayote), Festival (sausage-shaped deep-fried cornmeal dumplings served with fried fish, jerk pork or chicken), small green grape-like fruit called guinep, June plum, Naseberry or sapodilla, and patties (a flaky pastry pocket filled with seasoned meat or vegetables). Jerk cooking refers to the special spices used to season meat which is then barbecued over an oven-like pit dug in the earth. Mackerel run-down (“run-dung” in patois) is whole salted mackerel, cooked in a stew of coconut milk, tomatoes, onions, scallions, thyme and hot peppers. The Jamaican Sunday meal is traditionally a soup made with red or gungo peas, pepperpot or beef simmered with salt beef or pickled pig’s tail, yams, dumplings, sweet potatoes and vegetables accompanied by thick slabs of harddough bread.

Jamaica is well-known for distinctive rums, including Appleton, which is exported internationally.

 * Swimwear for both men and women should be worn only on the beach or at a resort, not while walking around town.

* Leaving a tip of 10% to 15% in restaurants and hotels is customary, if it has not already been added to your bill.

* Always take proper precautions against the heat and the warm Caribbean sun.

* Although a fun-loving, carefree attitude may pervade the island, marijuana is not a legal substance in Jamaica, and carries a heavy punishment for those caught with it.

 * Insight Guides: Jamaica.

* Walk Good: Travels to Negril, Jamaica, by Roland Thomas Reimer.

* Reggae Heritage: Jamaica’s Music History, Culture and Politic by Lou Gooden.

* Rasta Heart: A Journey into One Love by Robert Roskind.