Caribbean

The Caribbean Sea is a western offshoot of the Atlantic Ocean that sits between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Though many of the islands are south of the Tropic of Cancer, the waters around such islands as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are cooler than mainland Central America. These islands are subtropical rather than tropical, even though they are well within the tropics. Islands are mountainous, formed millions of years ago in volcanic eruptions from the sea floor. Plant and animal life is abundant and diverse, in areas ranging from deserts to rainforests. Islands in the eastern waters (the West Indies) were the site of Christopher Columbus' first landfall in the Western Hemisphere. The Spanish established dozens of colonies and ports in this area to support their conquest of wealthy natives, especially the Inca, Maya, and Aztec. The islands of the Caribbean were already settled by a fierce people, the Carib, who eventually supported the sugar plantations and colonies of a number of European powers. The French, British, and Dutch all had a presence in the Caribbean, though none were quite as powerful as the Spanish. Fat Spanish galleons loaded with plundered gold and silver sailed the length of the Caribbean, tempting attacks by privateers and pirates.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.