First-Year Seminar: The Caribbean and the World

3 units

For many, the Caribbean evokes images of an exotic place with beautiful beaches, friendly, happy natives and unbridled hedonism. Yet, much more than a distant vacation destination for first world consumption, the Caribbean has long been closely intertwined with major events in World History. This course explores the ways in which the Caribbean has been a part of the making of World History, beginning in the 14th century and ending in the contemporary period. Themes covered will include: capitalism and slavery; the Haitian Revolution and its global reverberations; U.S. imperialism in the Caribbean; the impact of Caribbean migration on British culture; Caribbean sports; music and food in a global context; and the contributions of Caribbean thinkers to anti-colonial and anti-imperialist thought and action.