The earliest history of Jamaica can date back as far as 1000 B.C. when the Tainos arrived to this beautiful island from South America. They lived in Jamaica comfortably until 1494 when Christopher Columbus laid anchor. Soon after the indigenous people known as the Arawaks were exterminated and by 1517, the Spanish began repopulating the island with its first slaves.

The Spanish set up Villa de la Vega which is now known as Spanish Town and at one point was also the capital of Jamaica. Soon afterwards, people started making their way to Jamaica because the word grew about the beauty of the closest thing to paradise on earth. Jamaica was also subjected to piracy between 1555 and 1655 as well as the British soon after their occupation of the island nation now known as Jamaica.

It was in 1655 when Great Britain started its conquest of Jamaica and successfully defeated the Spanish 2 years latter of the coast of Ocho Rios. Under English rule, although have burned down most of the Spanish Capital, the decision to keep it the capital of Jamaica remained but only after being rebuilt during which time Port Royal was considered to be the capital.

In 1692, Port Royal having been destroyed by an earthquake, the decision to move the capital of Jamaica to Kingston was made the capital due to its naturally protected harbor making it an excellent choice for the commercial center of Jamaica.

By 1834, after the rebellion of 1831, the British Parliament having had a special inquiry on the treatment of slave in Jamaica abolished slavery. However, many slaves were bound to their owners by honor and continued their services under what had been called the Apprenticeship System.