Bahamas History
A rich tapestry, the islands beckoned many a settler, explorer, trader and invader, while pirates found a virtual treasure chest in our shipping channels. But our sparkling islanders are the true jewels. In the Bahamas, every day is a holiday, and history our foundation.
The first settlers arrived in 300 or 400 A.D. from present day Cuba. The Lucayans, known for their sophisticated political and religious system, reigned from approximately 900-1500 A.D. Arriving on San Salvador in 1492, Columbus named the islands “Baja Mar,” Spanish for shallow sea. He soon enslaved the Lucayans, and as a result of colonial disease and mistreatment, the tribe of 40,000 became extinct in 25 years.
Seeking religious freedom, the English Puritans, or Eleutherian Adventurers, settled in 1649. Food was scarce, forcing them to beseech Captain William Sayles, who brought supplies and staples from the Massachusetts Bay. In a token of appreciation, the Adventurers exported Brasileto wood to the Bay colony; the proceeds were used to purchase land which later became today's Harvard University.
The shallow island seas were also a treasure chest for the infamous pirates Blackbeard and Calico Jack and men- in- disguise Anne Bonney and Mary Read. Established in 1679, the port of Nassau, also invaded by pirates and other criminals, was soon razed by both Spanish and French navies. The King of England appointed Woodes Roger as Royal Governor in 1718. Roger offered amnesty, hanged resistors, and soon drove out the pirates. American colonials in Eleutheria also brought architectural, agricultural and shipbuilding expertise, in addition to slaves, and abolished the Spanish in 1783.
The American Civil War (1861-1865) brought British industry. Cotton traders from Charleston aided the island's prosperity, but war's end caused economic demise, as did the collapse of the sponge industry and Prohibition in 1934.
However, the Hotel and Service Act of 1898, subsidized steamship service, the abolishment of Prohibition and the Cuban revolution were all economic boons and on July 10, 1973, the islands became a sovereign nation. Now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Bahamians now celebrate July 10 as Independence Day-and a thriving tourist trade and vibrant culture.
