7 February 2006

Web surfers can now learn about Caribbean history online, thanks to a new project from the British Library.

The "Caribbean Views" project offers visitors over a thousand images, maps and texts from the 18th and 19th centuries that provide an insight into life on the plantations in the former British colonies.

Talking the visitor through the online historical journey is historian and writer Mike Phillips, who offers invaluable commentary on slavery in the sugar plantations.

The collection's project manager, Russell Watkins explained that the new project brings many different types of historical sources together on an easily accessible website.

"It has been developed by picking out the best examples of text and images that are scattered throughout the library's vast collections of maps, manuscripts, printed books and newspapers," he said.

"An online collection of this kind allows users to cross-reference and contextualise material and hopefully provides very meaningful information and lessons to learners that visit the site," he added.

This is the latest addition to the ever-expanding online programme run by the British Library in which they hope to digitise over 90,000 sounds and images.

The whole range of collections can be found at the Collect Britain website.

© Adfero Ltd

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