French Guiana Final Report
Judy Guthro
Professor Brady
GEO373
05 February 2011
The history and culture of French Guiana is as varied as its landscape. Its people are as diverse as the country; from the Atlantic coast, to the marshy swamps, to the tropical rain forest and the Guiana Highlands.
The Arawak Indians were the first known people to inhabit the land now known as French Guiana. The next wave of people was the Caribs, who were traveling from Brazil and stayed behind. This group made up the Amerindians, of which there are only a handful of descendants left today. The Spaniards commissioned Christopher Columbus and settled the land in 1498. They occupied the land on and off for the next century.
When the rest of the European powers were claiming land in the new world, the French arrived in 1603 to claim the land and people. They were all looking for one thing, the lost city of gold, El Dorado. Due to the climate and Indian attacks the first French settlement was a failure (Britannica, 974). In 1634 the French returned and did not leave. Cayenne was founded as the capital some time later. It remains the country's largest city.
In 1809 the country changed hands again when the Portuguese-British took the country from France. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 the country was handed back to France and has remained in their hands ever since (Burton, Reno, 2).
With the introduction of slaves from Africa the French were able to establish plantations along the northern coast where easy access and low, clear lands were available. These plantations formed the country’s economic base. Following a series of agricultural failures, and culminating with the abolition of slavery in 1848, most of the plantations closed.
During this period, France was in the midst of its own revolution and was over-filling its prison system with political prisoners as well as the common thief or scoundrel. France saw that England was taking the lead to rid its country of its prisoners by
Professor Brady
GEO373
05 February 2011
The history and culture of French Guiana is as varied as its landscape. Its people are as diverse as the country; from the Atlantic coast, to the marshy swamps, to the tropical rain forest and the Guiana Highlands.
The Arawak Indians were the first known people to inhabit the land now known as French Guiana. The next wave of people was the Caribs, who were traveling from Brazil and stayed behind. This group made up the Amerindians, of which there are only a handful of descendants left today. The Spaniards commissioned Christopher Columbus and settled the land in 1498. They occupied the land on and off for the next century.
When the rest of the European powers were claiming land in the new world, the French arrived in 1603 to claim the land and people. They were all looking for one thing, the lost city of gold, El Dorado. Due to the climate and Indian attacks the first French settlement was a failure (Britannica, 974). In 1634 the French returned and did not leave. Cayenne was founded as the capital some time later. It remains the country's largest city.
In 1809 the country changed hands again when the Portuguese-British took the country from France. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 the country was handed back to France and has remained in their hands ever since (Burton, Reno, 2).
With the introduction of slaves from Africa the French were able to establish plantations along the northern coast where easy access and low, clear lands were available. These plantations formed the country’s economic base. Following a series of agricultural failures, and culminating with the abolition of slavery in 1848, most of the plantations closed.
During this period, France was in the midst of its own revolution and was over-filling its prison system with political prisoners as well as the common thief or scoundrel. France saw that England was taking the lead to rid its country of its prisoners by
Bibliography: "French Guiana" Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009, Print Alan West-Duran 2003 “African Caribbeans, A Reference Guide”, Greenwood, 2003, Print Burton, Richard D.E. and Fred Reno, “French and West Indian: Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana Today”, Macmillan, 1995, Print “Devils Island Fugitives” Crime and Punishment Essential Primary Source. Ed K.Lee Lerner and Brenda Wlmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Gale World History I. Web, 23 Jan 2011 “French Guiana” BBC World News Online, Web, 25 Jan 2011 “French Guiana Travel Guide”, Wikitravel Web, 25 Jan 2011