Barbados is the eastern-most Caribbean island. It is located at 13.4N, 54.4W. The island, is less that one million years old, and was created by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates along with a volcanic eruption. Later coral formed, accumulating to about 300 feet. It is geologically unique, being actually two land masses that merged together over the years.
The first indigenous people to inhabit Barbados were Amerindians from Venezuela who called themselves the Arawaks. Scientists believe they settled there about 1623 B.C.
In 1200, the Arawaks were conquered by the Caribs. The Caribs were tall and strong. They were excellent bowmen and used poison in there bows to paralyze their target.
Then the Portuguese took over. An explorer called Pedro a Campos named the island Los Barbados (The Beards) because of the islands fig trees which had the appearance of beards.
Spain then came to Barbados in 1492 but in search for larger islands, left. But while they were there, they enslaved the Caribs, and gave them small pox and tuberculosis which eventually killed them off.
By the time English got there the island had very few inhabitants other than animals or plants which it had an abundance of. The English colonized in 1625 to 1644 and was led by Captain John Powell.
In a few years they deforested the island and in their place made tobacco and cotton plantations.
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