Page 18 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

History of the CR Caribbean
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History of the Costa Rican Caribbean
Costa Rica’s Caribbean region is intimately connected to the economic history of the country and that of the Greater Caribbean, a cultural area that includes the Caribbean coast from Mexico to Colombia and the Antilles. The latter region was also the source of much of the migration to the Caribbean coast, during the period of the construction of the port, railway and banana production.
The current province of Limón and its population are closely connected to the different types of development that have marked the country’s historical, political and economic development, largely due to its natural richness, arable land, abundant water supply, its location on the Caribbean Sea and, undoubtedly, the strength of its people.
Ancient period
The Costa Rican Caribbean is located in the Central and Gran Chiriquí archaeological regions. At the time of the Spaniards’ arrival, they lived in complex societies with a political organization centered around chiefdoms.
Spanish conquest and colonization period
In colonial times, the Caribbean region was inhabited by indigenous groups known as the Huetares, Urinamas, Cabécares and Bribris, who were forced to flee to the Cordillera de Talamanca to escape Spanish rule.
Since colonial times, the Caribbean has been known for being an untamed region that was never able to be conquered.
In the second half of the 16th century, the Caribbean maritime space became a place of endless battles between English, French and Dutch pirates, who would lay in wait for Spanish caravels to seize their valuable cargo.
During colonial times, Matina was the site of a significant economic boom in cocoa production.
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