Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Hispaniola, which comprises present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti, in 1492 and established it as his main base for the further exploration of the region.
For two centuries the Spanish ruled the island, but as they became increasingly distracted by their fledgling settlements on the mainland, English pirates plundered and ransacked almost at will, while French colonisers threatened to take over. Finally, in 1697, western Hispaniola (present-day Haiti) came under French control, with the east remaining under Spanish control, a division that still exists today, with the Dominican Republic and Haiti sharing the island.
A century later, Santo Domingo (the oldest city in the Americas), which was founded by Columbus' brother in 1496, was ceded to the French; the rest of the island soon followed suit. The Battle of Palo Hincado, in 1808, heralded the collapse of French rule in the eastern part of the island. The colony reverted to Spanish sovereignty the following year, and in 1821, the colonial treasurer, José Nunez de Caceres, proclaimed Santo Domingo's independence.
This independence was short-lived, however, as in 1822, the Haitians invaded the colony and occupied it for 22 years, until, on 27 February 1844, the territory of Santo Domingo recovered its sovereignty and declared independence as the Dominican Republic.
After years of civil war and US occupation, the republic was taken over by General Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961), whose dictatorship was characterised by cruelty and megalomaniac excess. Finally, after years of brutally oppressing his opponents, Trujillo was assassinated in 1961, prompting a period of civil unrest.
Under the control of President Joaquín Balaguer, the country became reasonably stable. After defeat to Guzmán Fernández in the 1978 elections, Balaguer was re-elected four times between 1986 and 1995. In November 1995, amid a cycle of protests and strikes caused by a serious energy crisis, steep inflation and deterioration of public services, Balaguer was forced to stand down, with Leonel Fernandez becoming president.
In 2000, despite failing health, Balaguer took one more shot at the presidency, but this ended in defeat at the hands of Hipólito Mejía, PRD (Dominican Revolutionary Party) candidate. Four years later, Fernández became president again after promising to reduce inflation, stabilise the exchange rate and restore investor confidence. The President was elected into a third term in 2008, continuing his programme of economic development. The 2012 elections, however, were won by Danilo Medina, of the centrist PLD (Dominican Liberation Party).
Did you know?
• Dictator Rafael Trujillo (1891-1961) was famous for his love of fine clothes; he had some two thousand suits and more than ten thousand neckties.
• More than half of the population of the Dominican Republic live in New York City, and expats send back some US$3 billion a year to their families on the island.
• Cabarete, on the north coast, is considered the best kitesurfing resort in the Caribbean, and hosts the world’s largest kitesurfing contest each June.
Almost all Christian, with 95% Roman Catholic; there are small Protestant and Jewish minorities.
Social conventions:The Dominican lifestyle is a mixture of American and Latino reference points. Though the culture is rich in Roman Catholic and Spanish influences, for example, 72-hour divorces may be obtained.
Daytime dress is generally casual but beachwear and shorts are only acceptable in resorts and at pools; it is rare for locals to enter a church wearing shorts or a T-shirt. In many areas, evenings tend to be smarter, with dressing up common at better restaurants, hotels and for social functions. Despite a relatively conservative culture, meanwhile, young female visitors to towns and cities are likely to draw attention, not always of the respectful kind.
Spanish is the official language. Some English and French are spoken.
