Language/Grenadian-creole-english/Culture/Grenada-Timeline

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Historical Timeline for Grenada - A chronology of key events

History of Grenada Island[edit | edit source]

This island, first inhabited by Caribbean Indians, was discovered in 1498 by Christopher Columbus, who named it Ascension. It remained in possession of the Caribbean until the middle of the 17th century, when French settlers settled there, bringing black slaves to exploit sugar cane plantations, and massacring its inhabitants. The English seized it in 1762; d'Estaing resumed it in 1779; possession was assured to England by the treaty of 1783, which greatly increased sugar production there. The emancipation of the slaves, final in 1838, ruined and drove out the white owners, at the same time as it caused the division of the property and the well-being for the former slaves, whose population increased. Sugar production declined towards the end of the 19th century, and cocoa then became the primary export crop. At the same time, another decline was noted, that of the French language first spoken on the island, and which had now completely given way to English. From now on, only the names of rivers, mountains and plantations will recall the French occupation.