Spanish settlers arrived in 1510. They raised cattle and pigs and the two most important things that shaped the island's future: sugar and slaves.
By the 16th century, the Arawak Amerindians had died out due to the strain of hard work, bad treatment, and European diseases that they could not fight.
New slaves kept arriving and they were put to work on the sugar plantaitations, where the weather conditions were apalling. The largest slave revolt in Jamaican history was the 1831 Christmas Rebellion. It was inspired by the educated slave "Daddy" Sam Sharpe. He was also a reverend. This rebellion turned very violent when the slaves were tricked into laying down their arms under the false promise of abolition.
The slaves were mad and began to retaliate and 20,000 slaves were killed and more than 400 were hung. This caused slavery to be abolished on August 1st, 1834.
Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962.