The West Indies
Line 38 Mary Ann
WEST INDIES
The West Indies is a large group of islands that separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. They
comprise three main island groups:
Bahamas (north)
Greater Antilles (central)
Lesser Antilles (southeast)
The Bahamas consist of over 3,000 individual islands and reefs.
The Greater Antilles include the island countries of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic
(Hispaniola), and Puerto Rico.
The Lesser Antilles are the much smaller islands to the southeast, and they are divided into two (2) groups, the
Leeward Islands and Windward Islands.
Indians were the first inhabitants, and then, In 1492, the explorer Christopher Columbus became the first
European to arrive at the islands. It's believed by historians that he first stepped foot in the Bahamas. Columbus
called these islands the Indies because he thought he had finally reached Asia (and the East Indies). Spain, when
Columbus' mistake was discovered, (pardon the pun) renamed them the West Indies, to distinguish them from
the Spice Islands in the Pacific Ocean, (the East Indies) which we now call Indonesia.
Today the West Indies, better know as the Caribbean, is comprised of many island countries, dependencies and
territories, and (as a group) remain one of the premier tourist destinations on the planet.
Music of the islands can be easily recognized by the sustained harmonies ringing from the steel drums. The
Steel Drums were developed as a result of the many leftover fuel drums. All of their fuel must be imported and
in the early 1900’s this was done by 55 gallon drums. The natives discovered that if they hammer out certain
areas on the lids of the drums, they could create a musical sound. Many different types of music originated in
the West Indies including the Calypso. Many factors influenced the music. These factors included the African
influence from the slave trade, the lack of the normal instruments such as violin, piano, etc., the slow, relaxed
pace of life in the islands, the influence of the work songs of the fishermen, and local folk songs. Some of their
most famous composers/performers include David Rudder, Denyse Plummer, Calypso Rose, Xtatic.
The West Indies is a large group of islands that separate the Caribbean Sea from
AThe Indian Ocean
BThe Atlantic Ocean
CThe Pacific Ocean
DThe North Sea
The West Indies are part of which Continent?
A-Europe
B-North America
C-Great Britain
D-Africa
Music of the islands can be easily recognized by the sustained harmonies ringing from
A- the steel drums
B- The great symphony orchestras of the USA
C- The sad, mournful melodies
D- The mariachi trumpet group
Who was the first European to set foot on the West Indies?
A-Amerigo Vespucci
B. Christopher Columbus
C. Orlando de Soto
D. Ferdinand Marco de Polo
One of the West Indies most famous types of music is a dance called the
A-Wautoosi
B-Calypso
C-Bottle dance
D-Ballet
One of the West Indies most famous musicians is
A. Denyse Plummer
B. Calypso Rose
C. Xtatic
D. All of the above
Which island of the West Indies would you like to go visit the most?