Read about Cuban history, from before the 16^th century, when Cuba was inhabited by indigenous peoples, up to the present day.  The last few centuries, from the 16^th to the 20^th, features articles about numerous important events.

Interactively explore the island's history using our Java-based timeline. 

The 15^th century, and before, was largely a time of peaceful living for the indigenous people of Cuba.  It was only at the end of the 15th century that Europeans (led by Columbus) discovered the island and brought the indigenous culture to ruins.
 

During the 16^th and 17^th centuries, Cuba was almost exclusively dominated by Spanish colonial rule.  Cuba acted as a hub of commerce between Europe and the New World.  Accordingly, the slave trade through Cuba grew rapidly, ending only in the 1800s.  The indigenous population was all but decimated by murder, starvation, slavery, and European diseases.

The 18^th century saw significant development in Cuba's economy and infrastructure.  It was during this time that Spain began to develop Cuba's natural resources rather than just treating the island as a trading station.  The only major break in Spanish prosperity during this time was the British occupation of Havana.

The 19^th century was a time of gradual decline for the Spanish in Cuba.  Facing increased resistance from Cuban revolutionaries, Spanish authority eroded over the course of this century.