The earliest humans in the Bahamas are believed to have been the Lucayans, and they arrived from Caribbean islands in 500-800 AD. Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas when they were still unknown islands, as part of his first voyage. The first settlement of Europeans was in 1647, and many Africans were brought to the Bahamas during slave trading days. The descendents of these Africans account for 85 % of the population of the Bahamas.

Very few Spanish explorers stayed in the Bahamas, except for the Lucayans. The Spanish would capture Lucayans to use as laborers, which left the Bahamas nearly unpopulated. After this time, the Bahamas were not inhabited, for a period of about 130 years.

When European settlers landed on these islands, there was lush forest everywhere. They were cleared for planting and those trees have never regrown.

In 1648, a group sailed to the Bahamas for the purpose of founding a colony. After this time, the Bahamas were actually becoming over-crowded, since the country offered economic opportunity and freedom alike. When they lost a ship on the reef, supplies came in from New England and Virginia, but this initial colony was struggling for many years.

Salvaging of wrecks was the subject of a clash between the Bahamians and the Spanish. They fought over the wrecks, and the treasures and supplies from them. The Spanish burned down the Eleuthera and New Providence settlements, and pirates inhabited some of the islands. In 1697, peace was reached with France, but in 1701 and the years leading up to it, France and Spain were at war with England. The “rulers” of the Bahamas gave up on trying to govern the islands.

Without a government there, Nassau was overtaken by English privateers, who attacked Spanish and French ships. In return, France and Spain burned Nassau more than once. Many pirates called the Bahamas home, until 1718, when the Bahamas’ first Royal Governor brought a fleet of warships to the islands.

By 1964, Bahamians governed themselves, and they gained full independence in 1973. The Bahamas began, then, to benefit from foreign investment and tourism. Unfortunately, it also became a drug haven and distribution point. But today, it is mainly known for its natural beauty once more, and a favorite among travelers from many lands.