Early_Cuban_History

Early Cuban History Early Cuban History Cuba is a very interesting country with a very dramatic history behind it. Cuba was first discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus. Columbus names the island “San Salvador”, although the natives call it “Guanahani.” Columbus sailed around the shores of Cuba, which he called “Juana,” thinking that he had found Asia’s mainland. On October 9th, 1492 Columbus landed in Cuba and claimed the island for Spain. Three months later, Columbus set sail back to Spain to bring word of his discovery to the King, leaving a number of his men behind. He did not wait long to depart back to the new world again, leaving in September, but this time he brought 17 ships and 1500 men with him including missionaries, soldiers and laborers, as well as cattle and seeds. Even with all these ships, the Spaniards did not realize that Cuba was an island until 1508 when Sebastian de Ocampo circumnavigated Cuba, proving that it was an island. Before the Spanish had arrived there were 3 different native cultures: the Ciboneyes, the Guanahatabeyes and the Taínos. The Guanahatabeyes had been there the longest and it is thought that cuba, slaves, spain, natives, slave, slavery, cuban, spanish, spaniards, island, first, even, brought, years, sugar, one, men, made, havana, hatuey, columbus, after, very, time, over, world, until, trade, taínos, sailed, products, later, large, labor, independence