The West Indies: Patterns of Development, Culture and Environmental Change since 1492 (Cambridge Studies in Historical Geography, Series Number 8)

This magisterial survey of the historical geography of the West Indies is at bottom concerned with the causes and consequences of three complex and inter-related phenomena: the rapid and total removal of a large aboriginal population; the development of plantation agriculture and the arrival of enforced labour, in the form of many thousands of African slaves; and the environmental, ecological and cultural changes that resulted. Dr Watts shows how the initial European vision of a land of plenty has been replaced by an awareness of the geographic and ecological fragiliaty of the area, and explains how the exploitative agricultural systems of the colonial and recent West Indies have not adjusted to the demands of the environment. An enormous array of historical, biological and literary sources are marshalled in support of Dr Watts' analysis, which is likely to remain the standard work on the subject for many years to come.For review see: Roderick A. McDonald, in The economic historic review : a journal of economic and social history, vol. 44, no. 4 (November 1991); p. 765-766.

this Magisterial Survey Of The Historical Geography Of The West Indies Is At Bottom Concerned With The Causes And Consequences Of Three Complex And Inter-related Phenomena: The Rapid And Total Removal Of A Large Aboriginal Population; The Development Of Plantation Agriculture And The Arrival Of Enforced Labour, In The Form Of Many Thousands Of African Slaves; And The Environmental, Ecological And Cultural Changes That Resulted. Dr Watts Shows How The Initial European Vision Of A Land Of Plenty Has Been Replaced By An Awareness Of The Geographic And Ecological Fragiliaty Of The Area, And Explains How The Exploitative Agricultural Systems Of The Colonial And Recent West Indies Have Not Adjusted To The Demands Of The Environment. An Enormous Array Of Historical, Biological And Literary Sources Are Marshalled In Support Of Dr Watts' Analysis, Which Is Likely To Remain The Standard Work On The Subject For Many Years To Come.

Recoge: El entorno; Aborígenes: asentamiento y cultura; Aparición de los españoles y colonización; Primeras plantaciones europeas en el Nordeste; Las explotaciones azucareras en distintos periodos: 1645-1665, 1665-1833, hasta 1900: especial hincapie en el periodo de 1665-1883 (desarrollo general y comercio; producción de azúcar, crecimiento de población y ratio esclavos-blancos; características sociales, migración y crecimiento de ciudades; innovaciones agrícolas y cambio del entorno) To the small party of Europeans who travelled to the New World in the three ships commanded by Columbus in 1492, the physical attractiveness and plenitude of the shores on which they landed, and of their hinterlands, as well as their beneficent climate, all presented a most favourable impression, and one which for a while virtually overwhelmed them.