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Maya Civilization:
Archaeologists estimate that at their peak, 1 to 2 million
Mayans lived within the borders of present day Belize. Mighty
Maya cities such as Caracol, Xunantunich and Lamanai dotted
the landscape, with small agricultural communities farming
the land between. The Maya civilization is divided into
the Pre-Classic (1000 B.C. to A.D. 300), the Classic (A.D.
300 to 900) when the civilization reached its height of
development, and the Post-Classic (A.D. 1000 to 1500) when
the civilization fell apart and disappeared.
No one knows for certain what caused the disappearance
of the Maya. Perhaps it was war, loss of faith, famine or
a series of natural disasters.
European Presence:
Christopher Columbus sailed along the coast of Central
America in 1502, and named the bay which borders the southern
part of the barrier reef Bay of Honduras.
The first settlers in Belize were English Puritans, setting
up trading post along the coast of Belize. Various bands
of ship wrecked sailors, buccaneers and pirates established
permanent bases in Belize, harrassing the Spanish galleons
carrying gold, silver, and hardwoods from Central America
to Europe. It wasn't long before logging became the dominant
occupation.
This band of rugged individuals took to calling themselves
"Baymen" after the Bay of Honduras. Spain continually
attempted to expel these British buccaneers from then Spanish
territory, but finally signed treaties in 1763 and 1786
allowing the British to continue to harvest timber in exchange
for protection against pirates preying on the Spanish galleons.
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The Colonial Period:
During the 1840's, Great Britian declared Belize to be
the colony of British Honduras. Development of Belize became
more organized and multiethnic through a series of cultural
changes. The European settlers began to marry freed slaves
forming the Creole majority that still is dominant in the
population. Mexican citizens began cultivating small farms
in northern Belize. In Southern Belize, the Kekchi and Mopan
Maya sought refuge in the hills of the Maya Mountains. A
small band of Confederate Civil War veterans settled in
what is now Punta Gorda. And from the Bay Islands of Honduras,
the Garifuna people migrated and settled along the coast
of Belize.
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Early Twenth Century to Present:
By the early 1900's, Belize had grown to nearly 40,000
inhabitants. But a destructive 1931 hurricane destroyed
Belize City and by the 1930's, the economy was so poor that
the residents began to call for independence. By 1954 voting
rights were extended to all adults, and by 1961, England
agreed to begin the process of setting Belize free.
In 1973, the colony's name was changed from British Honduras
to Belize and on September 21, 1981, Belize's Independence
was declared.
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