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Cuba
Taíno island, Spanish colony, US protectorate and revolutionary socialist state.
Overview
Columbus arrived in 1492; Spanish rule endured until 1898. After US influence, Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution created the Americas' first socialist state.
Basic Information
CapitalHavana
Population11 million
Area109,884 km²
CurrencyCuban peso (CUP)
LanguagesSpanish
RegionCentral America & Caribbean
History Timeline
- 1492Columbus lands
- 1898Spanish-American War; US protectorate
- 1959Cuban Revolution
- 1962Cuban Missile Crisis
Ancient Peoples
- Taíno
- Ciboney
Ancient Kingdoms
Empires
- Spanish Empire
Religions
- Roman Catholicism
- Santería
Culture
Son and rumba music, cigars, Hemingway heritage, mural art.
Language
Cuban Spanish.
Important Battles
- Bay of Pigs1961
Failed US-backed invasion
Historical Figures
José Martí
1853 – 1895
Independence hero
Fidel Castro
1959 – 2008
Revolutionary leader
Archaeological Sites
- Trinidad
- Old Havana
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Old Havana
- Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
- Viñales Valley
Dynasties
Colonial Period
Spanish colony 1492 – 1898.
Modern History
Single-party socialist republic.