July
16
/ 2019
Dominica is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Its beauty, however, belies a somewhat violent past when it was often a center of violent conflict. One of the best-known historic monuments on the island is the former military fortress, Fort Shirley. This extraordinary example of military architecture played a critical role in the history of the Caribbean. The Short and Brutal History of Fort Shirley The island was first inhabited by the Caribs, some of whose descendants still live in the east of the island. Dominica was named by Christopher Columbus, who claimed it for the Spanish Crown, but it was not colonized by the Europeans until later when the island was settled by the French. In
