Early History

The island of Jamaica was first discovered in 1494 by Christopher Columbus. Beofre this time, the island was inhabited by the Arawaks. Then, in 1509, the natives were overcome by Spanish settlers when Juan de Esquivel established the first European settlement on the island. (A)  However, after the island was discovered by the Spanish and invaded by settlers exploring new lands, the Arawak natives were soon wiped out due to slavery, disease, and war. (E)