Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and is a small country of approximately 280,000 people. It is the only English-speaking country in Central America and is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy that recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as sovereign. Belize, like other Central American countries (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) and southeastern Mexico, was originally inhabited by the ancient Mayans. There are more than two dozen documented ancient Mayan language groups in this area, three of which currently reside in Belize. The Mayans currently make up about 10% of Belize’s population and include the Yucatecans in the north near the Yucatan border, the Q’eqchi in the south near Punta Gorda, and the Mopans in western Belize. near the border town of Benque. Old man of Carmen
THE MAYAS OF BELIZE AND FORMER
Paleoindian is the oldest recorded time period in Belize so far (Ca. 11,500 – 8000 BCE), followed by Archaic (Ca. 8000 – 900 BCE) and the approximate ancient Mayan chronology following these preceramic periods include:
*Preclassic – 900 BC C. to 250 d. C. (often cited as early as 1500 BCE)
* Classic – 250 to 900 AD
* Postclassic – 900 to 1500 AD
* Historic and Colonial – 1500 AD to present
Numerous sites and city-states existed in Belize representing these time periods, notably: Cerros, Colha, Cuello, Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Lamanai, Altun Ha, Lubaantun, El Pilar, Santa Rita, and sacred caves including Barton Creek. , Actun Tunichil Muknal and Che Chem Ha. The occupational history of the Maya in southeastern Mexico and Central America is endless, especially since today there are more than 5 million descendants of the Maya and Belize is certainly a part of this.
HISTORICAL PERIOD OF BELIZE
Records from the early 16th century indicate that in AD 1544 the Mayan city of Lamanai, in northern Belize, was to be part of the Spanish encomienda system (royal grant to a Spaniard for the right to work and tribute to a native population, They are also responsible for Christianizing the indigenous). Although there are certainly early reports of Spanish contact in other areas of the New World, the documented reference to Lamanai and the construction of a Spanish church in Lamanai around 1570 AD. C. provide a securely dated influence of European settlement in Belize.
The Mayan society these early Europeans encountered was a very different population that had undergone many transformations since the height of the “Classic Period.” Contact in Belize with Europeans was detrimental to the existing Maya through disease, enslavement, and fighting. During the 18th century, through logging concessions granted to Great Britain by Spain, the modern boundaries of Belize were created. Spain claimed sovereignty but did not settle on the land. British settlers at the time were mainly ex-pirates who no longer had the support of their governments who were now trying to crack down on piracy. These settlers asked for British support and protection from attacks by the Spanish and the remaining Mayan populations. The most famous involvement of the British armed forces was the Battle of St. George’s Caye in 1798; it was the battle that marked the end of the Spanish claims on the territory.
MOST RECENT HISTORY OF BELIZE
Belize took about two hundred years after Spanish contact to gain independence from Spain, it was in 1871 that Belize was officially declared a British crown colony. After this time, both the population and the economy grew significantly, the economy being mainly focused on the forest products of mahogany, chicle and palo campeche. Population increases included groups of Africans, Garifuna, mestizos (a mixture of Spanish and Mayan descent), and Mayan refugees fleeing the Caste War in Mexico. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of Indian and Chinese laborers arrived after the abolition of slavery, and Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian Arabs also began to arrive, fleeing political turmoil in the Middle East. It was in the 1950s that Belize supported a unique settlement with Mennonites from Mexico; this agreement provides Mennonites with sovereignty similar to that granted to Native Americans in the United States.
It was also in 1950 that George Price led the campaign for Belizean Independence. As with other British colonies, self-government was achieved in 1964. Due to Guatemala’s continuing threat to take over Belize once the British withdrew, Belize’s true independence did not take place until September 21, 1981. Since Belize needed protection and had no armed forces, the full-time British Army remained in Belize until 1994.
Belize is a fascinating country and immigrations over the years have created a unique multi-cultural friendly society.
