Boundaries of Belonging: English Jamaica and the Spanish Caribbean, 1655-1715

English Jamaica was central to numerous projects of varying legality aimed at acquiring Spanish American wealth. Boundaries of Belonging follows the stories of individuals who moved through the contested spaces of the western Caribbean, seeking or rejecting Spanish or English subjecthood, citing their place of birth, nation or ethnicity, religion, loyalty, or economic or military contributions. These contests over who belonged in what empire and why helped to determine who would be included within a developing law of nations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

In the aftermath of England's 1655 conquest of Spanish Jamaica, the western Caribbean emerged as a region characterized by overlapping and competing claims over land, maritime spaces, and people. Situated in the heart of Spanish American port towns and shipping lanes, English Jamaica became a focal point for numerous projects, ranging from legal to illegal, aimed at acquiring the wealth of Spanish America. These endeavors were intertwined with a broader movement of individuals seeking political membership in emerging colonial societies and, by extension, in the Atlantic empires.

Boundaries of Belonging delves into the lives of these diverse individuals, including licensed traders, smugglers, freedom seekers, religious refugees, pirates, and interlopers. They hailed from various backgrounds, including English, Spanish, Sephardic, Tule, French, Kalabari, Scottish, Dutch, and Brandenberg, as well as creole people who identified with their local place of origin or residence, such as Jamaican, Cuban, or Panamanian. As they traversed the contested spaces of the western Caribbean, these individuals faced the decision of whether to embrace Spanish or English subjecthood, often citing factors such as place of birth, nation or ethnicity, religion, loyalty, or economic or military contributions to the colony or empire.

Colonial and metropolitan officials grappled with these claims as they sought to assert sovereignty over a diverse and mobile population in a region characterized by disputed and shifting jurisdictions. These contests over who belonged in what empire and why, as well as the protections such belonging conferred, played a crucial role in shaping the development of a nascent law of nations. The decisions made by these officials in determining who would be included within the boundaries of nation-states had far-reaching consequences, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region and influencing the course of history.

In conclusion, Boundaries of Belonging offers a captivating exploration of the complex web of claims and counterclaims that unfolded in the western Caribbean in the decades following England's conquest of Spanish Jamaica. Through the stories of these individuals, the book sheds light on the struggles and negotiations that shaped the boundaries of belonging in a region characterized by shifting imperial powers, diverse populations, and contested sovereignties. It provides a valuable insight into the complex dynamics of colonialism and the formation of national identities, and serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of historical events on the present-day world.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512824018