History
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The Spanish Invade
Curacao is a long flat island in the ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) group of islands in the Caribbean. It is the largest in the Netherlands Antilles group. It was first inhabited by Arawaks, who were there in the 1500s when Europeans began to arrive at the island. The Spanish government sent groups of men out to map the borders of South America and the surrounding islands. Once they found out there was no gold to pillage, they quickly lost interest in the island.
Island Claimed by the Dutch
In 1634 the West India Company, owned by the Dutch, claimed the island. They began to build plantations where corn and peanuts were grown and native fruits were harvested. There was a problem however. Most of the water on the island was salt water and it couldn't be used for farming.
The island transformed itself into an island of salt mining and exporting. Curacao was blessed with deep waters and natural barriers. Caribbean traders found the ports to be a great place to anchor. There was a dark side to this trading advantage. As the momentous slave trade began in the 17th and continued to the 18th century, slaves were brought from Africa and sold on the docks of the port of Willemstad. When slavery was outlawed in 1863 the island was economically ruined.
Language Develops
During the time of the slave trade a language began to develop on the island. This language was how the slave traders communicated with the slaves. It was a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and African and was called Papiamentu. Jewish families from Amsterdam also began to immigrate to the island in order to escape the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions. One of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere still stands in the port city of Willemstad.
Oil Discovered
In 1920 oil was discovered on the island and once again Curacao became the center of activity. People began to immigrate to Curacao from South America to man the refineries. During World War II an American military base was placed at Waterford Arches. After World War II the island followed along with the rest of the Caribbean and sought independence. It became one part of the Netherlands Antilles with an administrative center in Willemstad.
Curacao Today
Tourism began to emerge as another industry on the island in the 1900's because of the sandy beaches and position in the Caribbean. Prostitution is legal and regulated on the island and has been since the 1940's.
