BELIZE
HISTORY |
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| The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and
flourished until about AD 900. The first Europeans arrived in the area in
the early 16th century and settlement began with shipwrecked English seamen
in 1638. This period also was marked by piracy, indiscriminate logging, and
sporadic conflict with Native American tribes and the neighbouring Spanish. |
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Belize grew into a more official colony of the United Kingdom during the
late 18th, early 19th century under the name of British Honduras, which
became a crown colony in 1862. A self-governing colony since January 1964
and renamed Belize in June 1973, George Price led the country to full
independence in September 1981 after delays caused by territorial disputes
with neighbouring Guatemala, which did not formally recognise the country
until 1992.
Throughout Belize's history Guatemala has claimed ownership of the territory. |
