Language/Guadeloupean-creole-french/Culture/Martinique-Timeline

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Historical Timeline for Martinique - A chronology of key events
Martinique-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png

Martinique-Timeline-PolyglotClub.jpg

Martinique Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • Today the overseas region of France, Martinique is a Caribbean island found in the Lesser Antilles. Although its history is recent, it has a fairly busy past. Between the Amerindian, slavery and colonial history of this territory commonly known as the "Island of Flowers", there are many salient facts that should be reviewed. Here is the complete chronology of the history of Martinique!

Martinique before the discovery by the Europeans[edit | edit source]

  • Thanks to archaeological studies, it has been shown that the first human traces in Martinique date back to the period from - 2,400 to -1,900 BC. However, the presence of the Amerindians, in particular the “Arawaks”, the first known occupants of the territory, is dated to around 300 or 400 years before our era.
  • An eruption of Mount Pelée dated to the 3rd century BC scares away the Arawaks who will not return to the territory until the 4th century AD. They returned to gradually replace the Saladoid Indians originally from the Orinoco Valley who had previously frequented the island since the 180s. We then witnessed the emergence of the Caribbean Indians. The latter, originally from the Amazon, gradually exterminated the Arawaks from the 9th century, taking care to keep the women. Already in the year 800 AD, there was hardly any trace of the Arawaks on the island.

Colonization of Martinique by Europeans[edit | edit source]

  • First discovered in 1499 by the Spanish conquistador explorer Alonso de Ojeda, Martinique owes its name to Christopher Columbus who set foot on the island on June 15, 1502 during his fourth voyage to "the Indies". The island remained under the control of the native Indians for more than a century.
  • IN 1626, RICHELIEU CREATED THE COMPANY OF AMERICAN ISLANDS AND BELAIN D’ESNAMBUC AND SENT A HUNDRED FRENCH TO COLONIZE MARTINIQUE.
  • The conquest of new territories subsequently led to the extinction of the indigenous Caribbean. In 1645, Dutch Jewish settlers brought to Martinique the secret of the manufacture of sugar. In 1650, the island of Martinique was bought by Du Parquet on his own account when he was governor of the territory on behalf of the company.

Wars between European empires to gain control of Martinique[edit | edit source]

  • Over several centuries, with the multiple conflicts in Europe, we have witnessed alliances as well as clashes between the great powers and the West Indies. Holland landed in large numbers in Martinique on July 19, 1674, but was defeated by the French during the Battle of Rum. The fight will now be between the English and the French. Twice Martinique came into British hands for short periods. However, it returned definitively to the French in 1815 after the Treaty of Vienna.

The development of slavery to increase the sugar economy[edit | edit source]

  • The organization of the slave trade began between 1671 and 1674 when Martinique was bought from Du Parquet on behalf of the crown of France under Louis XIV. The slaves should be used for the growth of the sugar economy which is increasingly prevalent on the island. Since the sought-after workforce could not be found in the metropolis, it was necessary to turn to the African coasts. In 1685, the "good rules and practices of slavery" were defined by Colbert's "black code".

The abolition of slavery[edit | edit source]

  • Following the regulation of slavery, we witness the creation in 1789 of a society known as the friends of blacks. An opponent of the monarchy, she has shown herself to be a defender of the cause of slaves. After a rebellion of certain allied slaves of free people of color (August 1789), we witness the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen who tolerates slavery. It was not until 1794 that we saw an ineffective abolition of slavery. Then occupied by the English during this period, Martinique could not actually benefit from the effects of the abolition voted by the Convention.
  • THE ABOLITION PROPERLY SAID DID NOT DUE TO MARCH 4, 1848 UNDER VICTOR SCHOELCHER’s Aegis.
  • However, between 1848 and 1849 there was a transfer of more than 10,000 Africans presented as "volunteers" for immigration.

The eruption of Mount Pelée[edit | edit source]

  • On May 8, 1902, Mount Pelée erupted and resulted in the complete destruction of the former capital of Martinique (town of Saint-Pierre). Nearly 30,000 people were wiped out by this volcanic eruption in less than two minutes. After a geologist who left Paris warns of the risk of another eruption, a fiery cloud killed another 1,300 people in Morne Rouge. Fort-de-France then becomes the new capital of Martinique.

Martinique, from the colony to the department[edit | edit source]

  • In 1946, France decided to end the colonial status of the Antilles. It was then that Martinique became a French overseas department (DOM). In 1983, the island changed status and became a full-fledged mono-departmental region. There is both a general council and a regional council.

The orientation of Martinique towards a single local authority[edit | edit source]

  • In the 2000s, a project for the cultural and heritage promotion of Martinique was born. It aims to develop a duty to remember on the part of Martinicans for a reappropriation of history and their space. In 2010, we witnessed the choice of Martinique to move towards a single local authority. This is a region-department merger. The territory subsequently experienced two earthquakes in February 2017 and September 2018 (earthquakes of respective magnitudes 5.8 and 6.3).
  • We remember that the history of Martinique is quite rich. Far from the recent character attributed to it, the history of this island can be subdivided into four main parts. These include its pre-colonial, colonial, slavery and postcolonial history. The most important thing is that today, the Martinique territory evolves in a climate of conviviality and great attractiveness. It is also part of a perspective of enhancing its heritage and culture.

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