Puerto Rico is an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands.

The capital and largest city is San Juan.

Originally populated by the aboriginal Taíno people, the island was claimed in 1493 by Christopher Columbus for the Kingdom of Spain, enduring several invasion attempts by the French, Dutch, and British.

During the four centuries of Spanish rule, the island's cultural and physical landscapes were transformed, with European knowledge, customs, and traditions being introduced, especially Roman Catholicism and the Spanish language.

In 1898, following the Spanish–American War, Spain cedes the island to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris.