Discover Barbados Culture & Heritage Bajan Heritage

Though given the name “Los Barbados” by Portuguese sailors in the 1500’s, Europeans were not the first to inhabit this easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles. This distinction goes to the Amerindians who arrived from Venezuela, followed by the Arawak Indians, who in turn were dismissed by the Carib Indians in the 13th century. But when the first English settlers arrived in 1627, they found an island that was largely uninhabited, and set about establishing a colony that would remain a part of the British Empire for 334 years.

Relatively flat, with a favorable climate, Barbados offered ideal conditions in which to grow sugar cane. This gave rise to the establishment of sugar plantations, and with them, indentured servitude and slave labor.

The success of the sugar, rum and molasses trade brought great wealth to the island in addition to thousands more African slaves. But in 1834, with abolitionist sentiments growing, Barbados became the first country in the world to abolish the slave trade.

Finally, in 1966, Barbados won independence from the United Kingdom. And has since become the envy of the entire region.

life lessons: nidhe israel synagogue

 

The oldest Synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, the Nidhe Israel Synagogue in Bridgetown was built in 1627.

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