The document summarizes the history and culture of Jamaica from its earliest inhabitants to modern times. It describes how the island was originally inhabited by Taino Native Americans, then colonized by Spain and later Britain, which brought African slaves to work sugar plantations. Jamaica gained independence in the 1960s but continued to have strong economic and cultural influence from the United States. Large-scale emigration to the US began in the mid-1900s due to economic hardship in Jamaica exacerbated by political changes and the global economy. Jamaican culture has significantly influenced American music and vice versa.