6 MODULE 1 CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE
islands eastwards, away from the mainland. So even
geographically locating the region is not straightforward.
Thus there are some countries which have long been
considered to be part of the Caribbean but are excluded
if a strict geographical definition is applied. This implies
that the cultural background of Caribbean countries
is just as important as their geography. For example,
Guyana is considered to be Caribbean although it
ACTIVITY 1.1
Mapwork
1. On the blank map of the Caribbean region provided,
locate and label the following:
a. water bodies – the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of
Mexico, the Pacific Ocean;
b. the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles;
c. the isthmus of Panama.
Check your work against Fig. 1.2.
2. Shade the territories that you consider are normally
included in the Caribbean region.
3. Read over the previous section and look again at Fig.
1.2 in attempting the following exercise.
0 400 800 km
0 250 500 miles
borders the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean
Basin, because the social and cultural experiences of its
people are similar to those of the people of the islands in
the Caribbean Sea.
The opposite is also the case. There are some countries
which are not widely accepted as ‘Caribbean’ although
they are ‘washed by the Caribbean Sea’. Activity 1.1
invites you to further examine this issue.
a. Identify FOUR countries shown on Fig. 1.2 whose
geography would define them as part of the
geographic Caribbean, but which are nevertheless
not widely accepted as ‘Caribbean’ by people in
the region.
b. Name the regional grouping to which each
country is normally attached.
c. Suggest ONE reason why each country is not
accepted as part of the Caribbean and analyse
whether this relates to its economic, political,
social or cultural background.