The settlement of the Martinique is relatively recent. Its history is largely marked by that of the colonization of America, the wars of influence between the old European colonial empires, the evolution of the agricultural activities, the eruption of the Peeled Mountain of 1902 and the calamities climatic, as well as modern independence claims.

First settlements of Martinique

The first, Amerindian S, were archaeologically attested 1st century. No reliable data makes it possible to make some go up the settlement at one older period.

The first inhabitants would have been of culture saladoïde, of the name of the site éponyme Venezuelan of Saladero. They come from the Amazon forest. The name of Arawak S which is given to them more largely designates a linguistic family to which many Amerindian populations of Amazonia are attached of which the populations Caribbean Kalina or .

This population produced a Céramique extremely decorated. It occupied especially the buttresses of the Peeled Montagne. It is about a Neolithic population practitioner agriculture and the fishing-gathering. The archeological site of Sharp, on the commune of the Lorraine , illustrates this first occupation perfectly. This site of habitat on the seaside was the subject of excavations between 1996 and 2001.

The level of occupation saladoïde is sealed by an eruptive layer of Pelée the third century of the Christian era. The countryside of 1999 revealed a layer of abandonment in place covered by ash with an eruption with the volcano. The most recent populations on the other hand seem to move preferentially into the southern zone of Martinique.

In their most recent phase, they are attached to the culture suazoïde, of the name of the site éponyme Venezuelan of Suazeï, and were indicated for a long time under the name of " caraïbe". The archeological site of the beach of the Trabaud Handle, on the Atlantic littoral of the commune of Holy-Anne, which was partly excavated by Louis Allaire, Canadian archeologist , is a site of this final period, perhaps practically contemporary of the arrival of the first Europeans in the Antilles. The site of the beach of Dizac to the Diamant is him the 9th century.

These populations are not populations radically different from the populations saladoïdes, as one often wanted to make it believe while following of too close the testimony of " chroniqueurs" , first authors of writings on the new territories of America. These chroniclers, often religious, are our only source written over the first times of colonization, the Amerindian populations of the Antilles not having a writing.

For the moment, one has only few data on the populations having occupied the island between the site of Sharp (towards 300) and the occupation of Diamond (towards 800). The knowledge of the Neolithic West-Indian is still very lacunar, the studies and the excavations answering the modern criteria being still rare. However, a thesis of doctorate was constant in 2003 on the first Amerindian occupations of Martinique.

The Caribbean and Arawaks

It was, until very recently, usually allowed that the Arawaks had been exterminated by the the Caribbean. However, it seems that this assertion is not also any more clearly accepted ( to see Caribbean Peuple).

History

Beginnings of colonization

Christophe Colomb discovers Martinique the June 15th 1502, during its fourth voyage towards the “Indies”. Contradictory versions allot the paternity of the name to Christophe Colomb, during its second voyage, in 1493. This one would have seen - by far only flowers - the island on November 11th, 1493, day of the Saint Martin's day: so it would have given him the name of Martinica, or Madinina (Island with the flowers). It unloaded finally only nine years there later. It is in 1635, that Pierre Belain d' Esnambuc installs there the first colony (Saint-Pierre), on behalf of the crown of France and of the Company of the Islands of America.

Between the fourth voyage of Colomb and the taking possession by the French, Martinique does not remain however without contact with Europeans. If the Spaniards forsake these islands which they consider too small and populated of dangerous Indians, the Dutchmen, the French and the English often make slackening there to make watering place (water supply), to supply themselves in vivres, and to trade with the Amerindians. The first French establishments in Martinique are the Strong Saint-Pierre (current town of Saint-Pierre) founded by Esnambuc, and the city of the Extremely-Royal (currently Fort-de-France) rested by the Governors Of Baath and Blenac.

The economic advancement

During the first decades of the French occupation, the island is producing colonial produces providing of strong profits: Tobacco (petun), Roucou, Indigo, Cocoa, tobacco of Martinique then being very appreciated. The crisis of the tobacco of second half of the 17th century ruins the first growers who turn to the production of sugar. The monoculture of the Canne to sugar soon will model the landscape and will become integral part of the creole culture. It will dominate the economy of the country until second half of the 20th century.

The culture of the cane with sugar such as it is practiced in the sugar Habitation request an important labor which the metropolis is not likely to provide. If the culture of the tobacco or the indigo could have been done with the " engagés" , draft of black slaves coming from the coasts of Africa east advanced as single solution likely to provide manpower necessary to the culture of the cane to sugar.

The volunteers came under contract with a grower for one duration three years (from where their nickname from " thirty-six mois"). The grower covered the expenses of the voyage and required then of committed work similar to that of the servile labor. But, unlike the slave, if it succeeded in surviving the terrible living and working conditions which were imposed to him, the volunteer recovered his freedom at the conclusion of the three years of its contract and was seen allocating a ground enabling him to become in its turn grower.

The culture of the cane is thus at the origin of the installation of the triangular Commerce (Europe, Africa, America) which quickly involves the surge of a reduced African population in slavery towards the French possessions of America, population which as of the end of the 17th century exceeds quickly and of much the white population of the origins.

The Amerindians, probably constituting a population with the relatively low density, are pushed back little by little towards the Atlantic coast before being finally driven out about it, in the years 1670. However, a fringe of this population " caraïbe" remain on the spot in a strong state of acculturation being based gradually in the remainder of the population.

The trade of sugar involves an intense maritime activity in Martinique during the 18th century. If the circuit carried out by certain ships passes by Africa to charge a cargo there with slaves before exchanging it in Martinique against colonial produces, others, even more, make the voyage directly, in " droiture" , between the French ports (Bordeaux, Nantes) and the colony. The profits of the sale of a cargo of slaves are such as one generally needs several voyages in uprightness to convey the exchange-value in colonial produces of the sold slaves. The chronic lack of metal species in the islands being made feel for all the colonial period, the majority of the exchanges are done on the mode of barter. This commercial navigation causes the covetousness of the other great European nations, primarily the Dutchmen and the English. A permanent state of war characterizes the colonial time, and the race and the Piraterie will maintain the danger, even during the periods of peace.

Wars between European empires

The Dutchmen quickly évincés as of second half of the 17th century, the fight concentrate between the French and the English (and, after 1707, date of the foundation of the United Kingdom, British). All the great European conflicts have their Caribbean component. It is in particular the case of the Guerre Seven Year old which will be worth in France the loss of many possessions to the profit of the Great Britain. Martinique will become thus, by twice, British possession, but for enough short periods. It will remain definitively French after 1816.

At the 19th century, the economic activity of Martinique profits from the loss by France of Saint-Domingue (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), principal French colony of the Antilles at the 18th century. Saint-Pierre, capital of Martinique and main city of the Antilles at the 19th century, know a prosperity then that only the catastrophic volcanic eruption of the Peeled Montagne of the May 8th 1902 will come to stop, and from which it will never go back completely.

Slavery

The work conditions of the slaves were extremely difficult. Death rate was so high that the importation of black slaves was accentuated to replace the “losses”. One imported only in the island of Martinique more slaves than as a whole of the British colonies which will form the United States of America later.

The abolition of slavery

In France, in 1788, the day before the French revolution, Brissot creates the Société of the friends of the Blacks , but in spite of the efforts of its most eminent members like the Abbé Gregoire or Condorcet, it cannot obtain the abolition of slavery near the Constituante. It is only on February 4th 1794 which Convention abolishes slavery. But this measurement will not be applied - far is necessary oneself some in all the French possessions of the time. In Martinique, it will remain dead letter, contrary to the Guadeloupe, because the group of colonists carried out by Dubucq will be occupied by the British. In addition, this abolition, dictation mainly by a humanism inherited the Lights, also aimed at rejoining with the revolutionary cause the revolted slaves of Santo Domingo, vis-a-vis the royalist threat and with the danger of a British invasion. Napoleon will restore slavery (law of the 30 floréal year X, is the May 20th, 1802), yielding to supplications white colonists who claimed more to be able to ensure their survival and that of their plantation by having recourse to a nonservile labor. The mixed marriages became again prohibited consequently occasion. It is only the April 27th 1848 which Victor Schoelcher, then under-secretary of State to the Navy and the Colonies of the Second Republic, affixes its signature with the bottom of the officially fine decree putting at slavery. Before even as the news does not arrive, the slaves inhabitant of Martinique revolted and obtained the abolition in fact on May 22nd, 1848.

To face the shortage of consecutive labor to the abolition of slavery, France, imitating in that the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, has recourse, of 1853 to 1870, with the immigration of an Asian labor, originating in India. The Indian immigrants are workers recruited initially for five years and having to set out again in their country of origin at the conclusion of this period. However, the great majority of them will remain in Martinique and will contribute to the development of its intellectual and cultural richness.

The eruption of the Peeled Mountain of 1902

The eruption of the Mountain Peeled in 1902 durably marked the spirits. The May 8th 1902, a terrible eruption causing the formation of a volcanic cloud kills all the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre (except for a prisoner of the name of Louis-Auguste Cyparis, or Sylbaris, saved by the thickness of the walls of its dungeon) and of the surroundings of the city (30 000 dead). The August 30th according to, whereas a geologist had moved of Paris and had prevented danger of a new eruption, a volcanic Cloud killed 1300 more people with the Morne Red.

The ruins of Saint-Pierre and his wrecks are being classified with the world heritage of UNESCO.

Wrecks of the roads

Many wrecks are since the catastrophe at the bottom of the roads, in particular Roréma, Dalia, Diamond, Tamaya,… These underwater archeological sites belong to the most beautiful sites of diving of the Caribbean one.

In this at the beginning of May 1902, the problem arrives in roads of Saint-Pierre but its place is taken by the sailing ship Tamaya (Mahéo captain) of the Rozier armament of Nantes. This small incident will save the problem.

Some dates relating to the history of Martinique

130 after J.C: Appearance of the first inhabitants of Martinique: Arawaks originating in South America.

295 after J.C: Arawaks are decimated following the eruption of the Peeled Mountain.

400 after J.C: Return of Arawaks and repopulation of the island.

600 after J.C: Another civilization, the Caribbean, originating in South America, exterminate Arawaks and settle on the island during several centuries.

1502, on June 15th, Christophe Colomb discovers Martinique. He is the first European to discover the island.

1635, Taking possession of Martinique by Pierre Belain d' Esnambuc. Beginning of French colonization. P.Belain d' Esnambuc founds the town of Saint-Pierre.

1642, Louis XIII authorizes the deportation of African slaves in the colonies: Beginning of the Draft of the Blacks.

1669, the Governor of Baath founds the town of Extremely-Royal (today Fort de France).

1766, Birth on August 2nd with Saint-Pierre of Louis Delgrès, revolutionary abolitionist who opposed the re-establishment slavery in Guadeloupe by Napoleon Bonaparte.

1794, Convention votes the abolition of slavery.

From 1794 to 1802: Martinique is under English occupation

1802, Napoleon Bonaparte restores slavery in the colonies.

1848, Signature on April 27th by the provisional government of the decree of abolition of slavery in all the French colonies.

1848, May 22nd and 23rd, Revolution abolitionist in Saint-Pierre and signature under the pressure of the insurgent slaves of the decree of abolition of slavery by the Governor Claude Rostoland.

At the 19th century, the principal defenders of the abolition of slavery in Martinique were Victor Schoelcher, Cyrille Bissette, Auguste-François Perrinon and Pierre-Marie Pory-Grandpa.

1870, Insurrection of the south of Martinique following a dispute enters béké Codé and the Lubin craftsman. Coded is lynched by crowd and of many factories sugar are burnt in the south of the island. The leaders of this insurrection are Louis Telga, Eugene Lacaille and a woman, Lumina Sophie known as " Surprise".

1881, on July 21st, 1881, inauguration of the college of Saint-Pierre, first laic college of the history of Martinique. From 1882, opening of many public schools on all the island thanks to the eagerness of the deputy Marius Hurard, the father of the public school in Martinique.

1900, At the time of a strike to the factory of Francois, police repression causes the death of 10 farm laborers.

1902, on May 8th, the eruption of the Peeled Mountain entirely destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre making 30.000 dead.

The June 25th 1913, Aimé Césaire is born with Low-Point.

The July 20th 1925, Frantz Fanon is born with Fort-de-France.

The September 21st 1928, Edouard Glissant is born with Sainte-Marie.

1945, on May 27th, Aimé Césaire is elected appointed Maire of Fort de France then.

The March 19th 1946, Martinique becomes an Overseas department. The first Prefect of the island east Pierre Jitter. Georges Gratiant is elected in 1946 first President of the General advice of the new department.

1959, 3 days of riot at Fort de France following a racist dispute on the place of Savanna. The repression of CRS makes 3 dead, Marajo, Rosile and Betzi.

1962, First independence claim in Martinique. It is about the business around Proclamation of the O.J.A.M (Organization of Youth Anticolonialist of Martinique). The authors of this proclamation are 18 young students Inhabitant of Martinique. They were condemned for attack to the state security and were imprisoned in Fresnes. Then they were discharged after 2 years of lawsuit.

1974, in February, burdens agricultural in the sector with banana. Police repression makes 2 dead, Georges Marie-Louise and Rénor Ilmany.

In 1983, Martinique becomes an area with whole share with the creation of a new community, the District council. Aimé Césaire is elected first President of the District council.

1996, the social equality between France and the D.O.M is carried out with in the chair Jacques Chirac. Alignment of the S.M.I.C of the D.O.M on that of France.

1997, the freedom fighter Alfred Marie-Jeanne is elected appointed of Martinique then in 1998 it is elected President of the District council. It is a first in the history of Martinique.

2003, an institutional evolution summer considered, in which the District council and the General advice would amalgamate in a single institution. This proposal was disallowed to 50,48% by the referendum of December 7th, 2003.

See too

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