Maps of the Lesser Antilles

Maritime resources

People of the Lesser Antilles lived with and from the sea. Enslaved, freed and free people turned to the sea to find resources in islands that were often marked by overexploitation of land resources. Fishing, turtling, coral harvesting and other maritime activities therefore became central to island existence.

Migration

People of the Lesser Antilles moved between islands. Their movements and connections across imperial borders and island-shores created a shared world defined by slavery and freedom.