Abstract

The British Caribbean colonies of Jamaica, Barbados, and Nevis were examples of the sudden rise of English power in the Caribbean. They all experienced a rapid growth in both population and wealth during the mid to late seventeenth century. With that growth and wealth came many changes that had not been previously encountered in England. Historians have pinpointed a change in consumer trends that can be dated to the early to mid eighteenth century in England. Archaeological evidence suggests that this change may have occurred earlier within the Caribbean colonies. This paper analyzes the archaeological and historical evidence that supports this claim. The data provided proves that in fact the consumer revolution was experienced in the Caribbean due to a specific set of circumstances as early as the late seventeenth century. This predates the consumer revolution in England by as much as 50 years. By comparing historical and archaeological evidence this paper identifies and explains why such a revolution would happen. The research indicates that the Caribbean had a significant influence on social trends in Great Britain and the Old World generally.

Advisor

Kardulias, P. Nicholas

Department

Archaeology

Disciplines

Archaeological Anthropology

Keywords

caribbean, archaeology, consumerism, colonialism, economics, port royal, barbados, nevis

Publication Date

2012

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2012 Christopher Gordon Haslam