prior to colonization, several amerindian groups inhabited antigua and barbuda, all of which relied on a subsistence lifestyle. british colonists established settlements in the islands in 1632. after fighting off the caribs, dutch, and french to stabilize their colonies, settlers grew tobacco, indigo, cotton, and ginger as cash crops. as on many other caribbean islands, sugar cultivation became the most profitable enterprise, quickly surpassing other crops in economic importance. due to the vast tracts of land needed for large-scale sugar production, rainforests on the islands were decimated. timber from the rainforests was used in shipbuilding and repair.