| Belize is formerly known as British Honduras and is a | | | | The Maya society these first Europeans encountered |
| small country of approximately 280,00 people. It is the | | | | were a very different population that had undergone |
| only English speaking country in Central America and is | | | | many transformations since the height of the "Classic |
| a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary | | | | Period". Contact in Belize with Europeans was |
| democracy that recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as | | | | detrimental to the existing Maya through disease, |
| sovereign. Belize, as with other Central American | | | | slavery, and fighting. During the 18th century through |
| countries (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) and | | | | logging concessions given to Britain by Spain the |
| southeastern Mexico, was originally settled by the | | | | modern boundaries of Belize were created. Spain |
| ancient Maya. There are over two-dozen documented | | | | claimed sovereignty but did not settle the land. The |
| ancient Mayan linguistic groups in this area, three of | | | | British settlers at this time were primarily ex-pirates |
| which currently reside in Belize. The Maya currently | | | | who were no longer supported by their governments |
| make up about 10% of the population of Belize and | | | | who were now attempting to stamp out piracy. These |
| include the Yucatec in the north near the Yucatan | | | | settlers called for British support and protection from |
| border, the Q'eqchi in the south, near Punta Gorda, and | | | | the attacks by the Spanish and remaining Maya |
| the Mopan, in western Belize near the border town of | | | | populations. The most famous of the British armed |
| Benque Viejo del Carmen. | | | | forces involvement was the Battle of St. George's |
| THE MAYA OF BELIZE AND EARLIER | | | | Caye in 1798; it was the battle that marked the end of |
| Paleoindian is the earliest time period recorded in Belize | | | | the Spanish claims to the territory. |
| thus far (Ca. 11,500 - 8000 BC) this is followed by the | | | | MORE RECENT BELIZE HISTORY |
| Archaic (Ca. 8000 - 900 BC) and the approximate | | | | It took some two hundred years after Spanish contact |
| ancient Maya Chronology that follows these | | | | for Belize to gain independence from Spain, it was in |
| preceramic periods include: | | | | 1871 that Belize was officially declared a British Crown |
| * Preclassic - 900 BC to AD 250 (often cited as early | | | | Colony. After this time both the population and |
| as 1500 BC) | | | | economy grew significantly, the economy primarily |
| * Classic - AD 250 to 900 | | | | centered around forest products of Mahogany, chicle, |
| * Postclassic - AD 900 to 1500 | | | | and logwood. The population increases included groups |
| * Historic and Colonial - AD 1500 to Present | | | | of African, Garifuna, mestizo (a mix of Spanish and |
| Numerous sites and city-states existed throughout | | | | Maya descent), and Maya refugees fleeing the Caste |
| Belize that represent these time periods, notably: | | | | War in Mexico. During the nineteenth and early |
| Cerros, Colha, Cuello, Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal | | | | twentieth centuries a number of Indian and Chinese |
| Pech, Lamanai, Altun Ha, Lubaantun, El Pilar, Santa Rita, | | | | indentured laborers arrived after the abolition of |
| and sacred caves that include Barton Creek, Actun | | | | slavery, and Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian Arabs |
| Tunichil Muknal, and Che Chem Ha. The occupational | | | | also began arriving, fleeing the political unrest in the |
| history of the Maya in southeast Mexico and Central | | | | Middle East. It was in the 1950's that Belize backed a |
| America is endless especially since today there are | | | | unique settlement with Mennonites from Mexico; this |
| over 5 million Maya descendants and Belize is certainly | | | | settlement provides Mennonites with sovereignty |
| a portion of this. | | | | similar to what Native Americans in the United States |
| BELIZE HISTORIC PERIOD | | | | were granted. |
| Early 16th century records indicate that in AD 1544 the | | | | It was also in 1950 that George Price led the campaign |
| Maya city of Lamanai, in northern Belize, was to be | | | | for Belizean Independence. As with other British |
| part of the Spanish encomienda system (royal grant to | | | | colonies self-government was achieved in 1964. Due |
| a Spaniard for the right to labor and tribute a native | | | | to Guatemala's continued threat to overtake Belize |
| population, they are also responsible for christianizing | | | | once the British pulled out, Belize's true independence |
| the natives). Although there certainly are early reports | | | | did not take place until September 21, 1981. Since Belize |
| of Spanish contact in other areas of the New World, | | | | needed protection and had no army forces a full time |
| the documented reference of Lamanai and the | | | | British army remained in Belize until 1994. |
| construction of a Spanish church at Lamanai around | | | | Belize is a fascinating country and immigrations through |
| AD 1570 provide securely dated European settlement | | | | the years have created a unique multi-cultural friendly |
| influence in Belize. | | | | society. |