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Christopher Columbus and the Taino Indians

Christopher Columbus was not the first to discover the Caribbean islands. More than 1000 years before the landing of the Europeans, Cuba and the other islands of the Greater Caribbean were already inhabited by the Taino Indians. The Taïnos were a peaceful and prosperous people practicing intensive agriculture.

The first contacts were warm, but the situation was soon to deteriorate for the Tainos. Ill-treatment on the part of the colonists, exactions and massacres as well as diseases imported from Europe contributed to make their civilization disappear in a few years.

 

Hatuey was one of the first Indian chiefs to oppose the invaders by force. He perished at the stake in 1512. He was the first hero of the fight against colonization. Cuba has several statues dedicated to this resistance fighter. Among others in Baracoa.

 

Wars between European powers in Cuba

The colonizers sought above all profit without worrying about the consequences on the indigenous populations. The search for gold was their greatest motivation. They first dispossessed the local populations before putting the inhabitants to work to extract the gold from the mines. Some realized that it was easier to attack ships belonging to competing colonial powers. Thus, the Dutch Piet Heijn became a very popular hero after having plundered the Spanish fleet in the bay of Matanzas in 1628. The booty made it possible to pay all the expenses of the army of the Netherlands for 8 months.

 

The Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American war in 1898 ended with the independence of Cuba in 1901. Obviously, the independence of Cuba vis-à-vis Spain has its price. The whole region came under the control of the United States. Cuba was of mainly strategic interest to Americans, who saw Cuba as an excellent location for military bases.

Cuba, geographically close to the United States, gradually turned into a paradise for rich Americans. The living conditions of the locals did not improve and the political situation in Cuba gradually led to the dictatorship led by Fulgencio Batista.

 

And the streets filled with gleaming Chevrolets and other Auldsmobiles.

 

Ernest Hemmingway

The Americans settled on the Island were not all great capitalists. Among them the writer Ernest Hemingway occupies a prominent place.

Hemingway was a big fan of fishing and hunting. Here are some images of his boat, the Pilar, as well as of the interior of his villa in Havana, bought in 1939 thanks to the adaptation rights for the cinema of his novel "For whom the knell sounds".

Rare are those who have their statue in their usual place in their favorite bar ...

 

the cuban revolution

Batista's regime was based on corruption and enjoyed the support of the American mafia which held a monopoly on gambling, prostitution and drugs. A very juicy business. Anger had been raging since 1951 and an attack by a hundred guerrillas on the Moncada barracks in Santiago on July 26, 1953 marked the start of the Cuban revolution.

The attack on the barracks ended in failure and the death of dozens of guerrillas. The leaders of the rebellion, including the brothers Fidel and Raoul Castro, among others, had to go into exile, but returned to Cuba a few years later. Under the pressure of the revolution led by Fidel Castro, seconded by Ernesto "Che" Guevara, President Batista resigned on January 1, 1959.

the bay of pigs

Relations with the United States would soon deteriorate and the failed landing in the Bay of Pigs in 1961 followed by the Soviet missile affair the following year marked the start of a severe embargo that was to last. 60 years. With all the economic and political consequences due to forced isolation ...

 

Among other consequences, the non-renewal of the vehicle fleet, which makes tourists happy.

 

An attempt at reconciliation with the turbulent history of this country? In the 1960s, a huge fresco representing the evolution of the land from its origins to the present day was painted on a cliff in Vinalès ..

About the 4 places in this film

 

• Bay of Pigs: Located on the southern coast of Cuba in Matanzas province, the Bay of Pigs is infamously known for the failed 1961 invasion, a key Cold War event. Today, the area is sought after for diving and exploring its preserved natural beauty.
• Baracoa: Established in 1511 by Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, Baracoa is Cuba's oldest city. Positioned at the island's eastern tip, it's renowned for its lush nature, pristine beaches, and the dominating El Yunque mountain.
• Matanzas: Known as "the Venice of Cuba" for its many bridges and rivers, Matanzas is celebrated for its rich cultural tradition, especially in poetry and Afro-Cuban music. It plays a pivotal role in the evolution of danzón and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
• Santiago de Cuba: As Cuba's second-largest city, Santiago de Cuba is famed for its historical and cultural significance. A cradle of the Cuban revolution, it boasts impressive colonial architecture, historic forts, and a vibrant cultural life, reflecting a blend of African, Haitian, and Spanish influences.