Final answer:
British Guiana, now known as Guyana, was a former colony of the Netherlands colonized by the Dutch in 1616 before British control. Dutch Guiana, now Suriname, also had a history of colonization, slavery, and indentured labor and gained independence in 1975. Both are part of the Guianas, a region not dominated by Spanish or Portuguese but by British, Dutch, and French colonization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country formerly known as British Guiana is present-day Guyana. It achieved independence in 1966 after a history of colonization and plantations that utilized the labor of African slaves and later indentured servants from various countries such as South Asia and China. Originally established as a Dutch colony in 1616, control was transferred to the British during the Napoleonic period, officially becoming British Guiana in 1831.
The neighboring country of Suriname, once known as Dutch Guiana, was also a colony designed for plantation agriculture and underwent similar experiences with colonization, slavery, and indentured labor. It became independent in 1975. Dutch Guiana was characterized by a diversity of cultures due to its history of colonization by both the British and Dutch and the introduction of indentured servants post-slavery.
Both British Guiana and Dutch Guiana are part of the region known as the Guianas in South America, a unique area that was not dominated by Spanish or Portuguese control, but rather by British, Dutch, and French colonization. These colonial powers introduced plantation agriculture, changing the social and economic landscape of the region. The impact of slavery and indentured servitude has significantly shaped the cultural dynamics of the Guianas.