Timeline for the Caribbean

Photograph of Bob Marley taken during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards

Jamaica Independence Act first published in 1962

Photograph of Marcus Garvey taken probably in the 1880s.

Painting inspired by the motto "Am I Not a Man and a Brother" which was produced in 1787 by Josiah Wedgwood.

Article about the British Slaver Abolition act published in 1825.

Engraving by Isaac Cruikshank showing Captain John Kimber on the deck of the Recovery, with the young girl he allegedly beaten to death published in 1792.

Drawing published in 1796, entitled Leonard Parkinson, A capitain from the Maroons, taken from life

Bob Marley

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Timeline for the Caribbean

17th century

Era of British colonization

1728-1796

The Maroon wars

1807

Abolition of slave trade in the UK

1825

Abolition of slavery in the UK

1865

Abolition of slavery in the US

1887

Marcus Garvey

1962

Jamaica declared its independence marking the end of the British rule over island.

1974

Notting Hill Festival

2017

Timeline for the Caribbean

1977

Exodus by Bob Marley, music album cover first published in 1977

1991

Jamaica Kincaid published for the first time her essay On Seeing England For The First Time .

2004

Small Island by Andrea Levy, Book front cover

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1728-1796

The Maroon wars

The Maroon Wars were conflicts between the Jamaican Maroons—descendants of escaped African slaves—and the British colonial authorities in the 18th century. The First Maroon War (1728–1739) ended with a treaty granting the Maroons autonomy, but tensions remained. The Second Maroon War (1795–1796) led to the deportation of many Maroons.

17th century

Era of British colonization

The era of British colonization began in the late 16th century and expanded over several centuries, making the British Empire one of the largest in history. Britain established colonies across the Caribbean, often exploiting local resources and populations. While colonization brought economic and political power to Britain, it also led to resistance, conflicts, and lasting impacts on the cultures and societies of the colonized regions.

Jamaica Kincaid, published her essay criticizing British colonial influence, 10years after the independence of her island: St John Antigua.

Small Island

Small Island explores the struggles of Jamaican immigrants in post-war Britain, highlighting themes of racism and identity. Through multiple perspectives, the novel reveals the contrasts between the expectations and realities of life in England. Andrea Levy’s storytelling vividly captures the hopes, disappointments, and resilience of her characters. The cover of Small Island by Andrea Levy represents the clash of cultures and the migration experience. The overlapping faces of women symbolize ethnic diversity and identity tensions between Jamaica and England. The blue and beige colors suggest both the elegance of the time and the transatlantic journey of Windrush migrants. The way the figures are facing different directions reflects displacement and the struggle to fit in, capturing the mix of hope and disappointment—the novel’s central theme.

The Abolition of slave trade in the UK

The UK banned the slave trade, but slavery continued in its colonies. Indeed, black people weren’t deported anymore but the slaves in the Caribbean still continued to work there.

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican politicial leader writer and a activist, best known for his role in the Pan Africanist movement and his promotion of pride and self determination for people of African descent. This 1920s photograph shows Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican leader of the UNIA movement. His military uniform and bicorne hat look like those of European leaders, symbolizing his dream of leading an African empire. By dressing this way, he wanted to show authority, gain respect, and inspire Black people to fight for independence and pride.