Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean Sea, located south of Cuba and to the west of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated.

The name of the country derives from the name Xamayca, meaning land of wood and water, given to it by the original Arawak or Taino people from South America, who first settled there around the year 1000 - 400 BC.

Jamaica was first claimed for Spain after Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1494. Columbus used it as his family's private estate. The British Admiral William Penn (father of William Penn of Pennsylvania) and General Venables seized the island in 1655. Under the first 200 years of British rule, Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation and produced over 77,000 tons of sugar annually between 1820 - 1824, which was achieved through the massive use of imported African slave labor.

Britain's over-zealousness in using slavery soon backfired, and by the start of the 19th century, blacks outnumbered whites to a rate of almost 20 to one. A series of revolts followed, and in 1838 slavery was formally abolished.

Over the years Jamaica slowly gained independence from Britain, and in 1958 Jamaica became a province in a British colonial nation called the Federation of the West Indies that was slated to become an independent Dominion. Jamaica attained independence and separated from the federation in 1962 and is now a completely sovereign nation. They celebrated the tricentennial in 1955.

Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a drop-off in tourism.

Former capitals of Jamaica include Port Royal, where the pirate Governor Morgan held sway, and which was destroyed by a storm and earthquake, and Spanish Town, in St. Catherine parish, the site of the old Spanish colonial capital and the English capital during the 18th and 19th century.

Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy, the head of state being the monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch's representative in Jamaica is the Governor-General, who is chosen by the prime minister and fills the role of approving bills, and other state functions. For the most part, the monarch (through her representative, the Governor-General) is a figurehead, and what little real power she has reserved for times of crisis. The present government favours turning Jamaica into a republic within the Commonwealth, in which the Queen and Governor-General would be replaced by a President.

The Jamaican Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House (known as 'Members of Parliament' or MPs) are directly elected, and the leader of the majority party in the House becomes the Prime Minister. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the parliamentary Leader of the Opposition.

The current Prime Minister of Jamaica is Percival Patterson who has held office since the 1992 resignation of Michael Manley. He has been since re-elected three times, the last being in 2002.

Jamaica has traditionally had a two party system, with power often alternating the People's National Party and Jamaican Labour Party.

Jamaica is a full & participating member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).

The musical genres reggae, ska, and, more recently, dancehall originated in Jamaica. Bob Marley, perhaps the best known reggae musician, was born in Jamaica, and is very respected.

The Rastafarian faith also originated in Jamaica, and is responsible for many well-known Jamaican cultural exports such as dreadlocks and red-yellow-and-green clothing.

The movie The Harder They Come from 1973 depicts one side of Jamaican culture. The main character is involved in dealing and smuggling ganja, and it was largely this movie that introduced reggae music in America.