When did people start living in Jamaica?

Archaeological evidence suggests that the first inhabitants of Jamaica were the Taíno people, who arrived on the island from South America around 600 AD. They were followed by the Spanish in the 15th century, and the island became a Spanish colony. In the 17th century, the English captured Jamaica and it became a British colony. The British brought African slaves to the island to work on sugar plantations, and many of their descendants still live in Jamaica today.