Indians were the first inhabitants here, and then, in 1492, Christopher Columbus began his exploration of
these islands, becoming the first European to venture into the area. After landing in the
Bahamas, Columbus named these islands the Indies,
because he thought he had finally reached
Asia. Numerous
explorers followed in his path, then settlers arrived from the Americas and
Europe. Included in that mix were
religious outcasts, slaves from
Africa,
and a small army of infamous pirates. Great military powers would fight for control of the islands,
and finally, a blended mix of African and European cultures and languages transformed this large group of islands
and its peoples into one
of the premier tourist destinations on the planet. Long called the West Indies, the overall area is now commonly
referred to as the
Caribbean,
a name that became popular after World War II