History Timeline Curacao
Get to known Curacao's captivating history from 500 AD to these days; this timeline outlines the island historical major events:
History Timeline Curacao
- The Arawak people
- 550 BC. 500 AD The Caiquetios a group from the Arawakan language family apparently came to the island from Venezuela agricultural people.
- Origins of the island's name
- 1499 Alonso de Ojeda discovered the island however the origins of the island's name are lost. One story tells that it derives from the Spanish word "cura" (cure) in honor of numerous sailors who where cured of illness while another is linking to the Portuguese word for heart.
- The Spanish administration
- 1526 The Spanish had set up their official administration that gave them control and power during 125 years.
- The arrival of the Dutch
- 1634 The Dutch arrived and so did slavery and trade. Half the slaves designed for the Caribbean passed through the markets of Curacao.
- The French buccaner
- 1713 Jacques Cassard succeeded in conquering the island however he withdrew after being paid.
- Multicultural melting
- 1920's and 1930's The oil refinery by the Royal Dutch Shell opened its doors and a great entry of worldwide immigrants arrived and turned the island into the multicultural melting pot that it is nowadays.
- Curacao was granted autonomous
- 1954 After the World War II Curacao had an increase in political end economic autonomy and became completely self-governing within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- Seeds of a new society
- 1970 A black prime minister was elected in 1973, and the government and private sector positions were open to Curacaoans of non-European lineage.
