|
Fort
Louis
- Overlooking Marigot and providing a great view over
sea and lagoon 
The
St. Maarten Museum
- learn about the island's history by visiting the museum
in Philipsburg
The
Old House - a private initiative on the main road
before Orient Beach
|
Arawak
Museum
- learn about pre-Columbian times in Marigot's museum
Border
Monument - friendly co-existence centuries - only
a monument marks the border
The
history of the Caribbean is filled with stories of colonial imperialism
where islands changed hands form country to country. St. Maarten was
no ace in the imperial holdings, but had its share of skirmishes and
smoky gun battles, which caused the island to change hands many times
between the Spanish, Dutch and French powers. The old stone forts which
guard many of the islands inlets is proof of the islands turbulent past.
The island's true history started peacefully - traces of Stone Age people have been found on the island, dating back to 4,000 BC. Around 800 AD the island, as many of its neighbors was settles by Arawak Indians who arrived from South America to settle down to a life of fishing, hunting and farming.
The Arawaks were not alone, however. They were followed in the 14th century by a much more war-like tribe - the cannibalistic Carib Indians. These new arrivals are the ones who gave the region its name, and knew St. Maarten as Soualiga, or "Salt Island" after its main mineral deposit. The remains of the Great Salt Pond can still be seen in Philipsburg today.
According to legend, Christopher Columbus sighted Soualiga on the 11th of November in the year 1493, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and he named the island after him - hence the name St. Maarten. The 11th of November is celebrated to this day, as St. Martin/St. Maarten's Day.
Although
Columbus sighted and named the island, the Spanish made no initial attempt
to settle here. Around the year 1630 the Dutch and French established
small settlements on the island. The Spanish must have not taken to well
to this settlement - they saw it as a threat to their influence in the
region and attacked the island - driving out both the Dutch and French
settlements.
The Dutch and French joined forces to repel the Spanish, and finally achieved this goal around 1644 when the Spanish finally abandoned their claims to the Eastern Caribbean altogether. After driving out the Spanish, the Dutch and French signed an accord (in 1648) and agreed to divide the island. Over the next few years, the boundary was the subject of numerous disputes. which were not settled until 1817. In this timeframe the island changed hands between the two powers 16 times.