History of Barbados

Barbados is a popular Caribbean nation located near Saint Vincent & Grenadines and Saint Lucia on its western side and Trinidad and Tobago on its southern side. Barbados derives its name from the old Portuguese word for “bearded ones” however historically it is not clear as to whether this name was given because of the bearded inhabitants of the island, or because of the prominence of the bearded fig-tree on the island. Further speculation has further added to the confusion behind the origins of the name as some have gone further to suggest that the name was given due to the foam that sprayed over the outlying reefs on the island which made them resemble a beard.

Barbados was first inhabited by the Amerindians and after that by the Arawaks, then the Caribs, it was sometime after this period that the Portuguese came to inhabit the island. From the mid-1500 to the 1600’s, the Portuguese were in control of the island until they left it for other perceived ripe locations.

The British were the next set of people to reach Barbados in the 17^th century and they met no inhabitants on the island. They held control of the island until 1966. The Barbados of the 17^th century is much different than the Barbados of today. The country in the 17^th century was overwhelmingly Celtic while by the 19^th century it had become overwhelmingly black.

Major Cities/Towns

The main city and the capital of Barbados is Bridgetown. It is also the largest city in Barbados and a major destination for tourists coming to the Caribbean. It is also one of those cities in the Caribbean reputed to be a financial/offshore tax haven. The Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is the only Airport which provides access to the city. It is also a tourist spot because it is one of the few sites where the supersonic Concorde which has now been retired from service is on display.

Holetown is another important historical town in Barbados, partly because it hosts a lot of firsts in the country. A number of institutions in the country were first established here.