Hispaniola, Spanish La Española, second largest island of the West Indies, lying within the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea. It is divided politically into
the Republic of Haiti (west)
and the Dominican Republic (east).
Why is Hispaniola two countries?
The political division of the island of Hispaniola is due in
part to the European struggle for control of the New World during the 17th century
, when France and Spain began fighting for control of the island. They resolved their dispute in 1697 by splitting the island into two colonies.
Was Haiti called Hispaniola?
Las Casas shortened the name to Española, and when
Peter Martyr
detailed his account of the island in Latin, he rendered its name as Hispaniola. Due to Taíno, Spanish and French influences on the island, historically the whole island was often referred to as Haiti, Hayti, Santo Domingo, or Saint-Domingue.
How are Haiti and Dominican Republic different?
Although Christopher Columbus colonized the entire island in the name of Spain, the languages slowly but steadily diverged. The Eastern half, which would become the Dominican Republic retained the Spanish language while the Western Half, modern day
Haiti developed a French-influenced Creole
as the common tongue.
Why is Haiti called Hispaniola?
ON his first voyage to the American Indies, shimmering on the western horizon,
Christopher Columbus discovered a Caribbean island
which he called Hispaniola, meaning “Little Spain.” He set foot on what is now Haiti on December 6, 1492, shortly after his first landfall at Watling Island in the Bahamas.
Why is Haiti so poor and Dominican Republic not?
Haiti is
the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
. The population is predominantly French Creole-speaking descendants of African slaves brought here during the slavery time. If you’re born on this side of the border you are ten times poorer than if you are born in the Dominican Republic.
Where did Christopher Columbus actually land in 1492?
On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus made landfall in what is now the Bahamas. Columbus and his ships landed on an island that the native Lucayan people called Guanahani. Columbus renamed it
San Salvador
.
What is the name of the rare gemstone that is only found in the Dominican Republic?
Larimar
is a rare blue variety of the silicate mineral pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue.
What country owns Dominican Republic?
1496 – Spaniards set up first Spanish colony in Western hemisphere at Santo Domingo, which subsequently serves as capital of all Spanish colonies in America. 1697 – Treaty of Ryswick gives western part of Hispaniola island (Haiti) to France and eastern part (Santo Domingo – the present Dominican Republic) to
Spain
.
What is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere?
Haiti
, with a population of 11 million, is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. In 2010, it suffered a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of about 300,000 people.
Who lived in Haiti first?
The original inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti/DR) were
the indigenous Taíno
, an Arawak-speaking people who began arriving from the Yucatan peninsula as early as 4000 BCE.
What was the original name of the Dominican Republic?
In 1844, Dominican independence was proclaimed and the republic, which was often known as
Santo Domingo
until the early 20th century, maintained its independence except for a short Spanish occupation from 1861 to 1865 and occupation by the United States from 1916 to 1924.
What was the original name of Puerto Rico?
Initially, Columbus christened the Island as
San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist)
. Still, the name was soon changed to Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” when the Spaniards realized the impressive amount of gold found in its rivers. When the capital city was established, it took the name of San Juan.
Which came first Haiti or Dominican Republic?
Haiti and
the Dominican Republic
share the island of Hispaniola, where Christopher Columbus established the first European settlement in 1492. … But by 1822 Haiti had established control of the whole island once more. Indeed, the Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti, not Spain, in 1844.
Why is Haiti such a poor country?
Haiti utilizes more traditional cultivation methods than
any other country in the Western Hemisphere due to the cost and absence of modern equipment. Small farmers also lack timely access to credit which impacts their ability to capitalize on certain crops and growing seasons.
Why is Dominican poor?
There are several causes of the country’s poverty, including
natural disasters and government corruption
. Jennifer Bencosme, a Dominican woman who spoke to The Borgen Project, explains her belief that many people want to leave the country to find better living and working conditions.
