The lake of stone

To what purpose fortifications? What was there to defend? Against whom? How? Why a Lake of Stone? The answer to these questions, in relation to the Caribbean, is a long story. It begins by noting that Spain arrives first and then, during almost a century, has the naval power to inhibit the presence of others in America. Disregarding maritime skirmishes and isolated attacks, no one dares to challenge it openly in Caribbean waters, until just before the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The sixteenth century is enough time for Spain to establish ports, to conquer the interior of the continent and to secure its hold on silver mines and indigenous labor. Its administration, its people and its culture take hold. And in the Caribbean, its interior sea, it initiates the building of an effective defense of stone to safeguard an empire. In spite of Spanish weakness during the seventeenth century, late arrivals have to content themselves with the periphery.