A History of Belize

Nation in the Making

Mayan Civilization – Location

• Developed for thousands of years throughout northern Central America– Mexico– Guatemala– Honduras– El Salvador– Belize

• Mayans probably settled in Belize around 900 BC• Archaeological evidence suggests communities

were present nearly 1000 years before that

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/camerica.htm

http://research.famsi.org/maps/maps.php?map=maya%20area

Mayan Civilization – Artisans

• Agriculture allowed for the development of the culture

• Mayans cultivated:– Corn – Cocoa– Beans – Chili peppers– Squash – Cotton

• Pottery was made• Textiles were also produced by dyeing and weaving cotton

Mayan Civilization – Scholastic Development

• Mathematics– Zero

• Astronomy– Calendars

• Religion• Writing

– Stone slabs, “stela”– Books, “codex”

Mayan Civilization – Cities

• Temples for worship• Palaces for royalty• Public houses• Plazas, sculptures, etc.• Ball courts

– Ulama: a game played with a rubber ball, the object of the game was to pass the ball through a stone circle, ball could only be struck with hips

Mayan Civilization – Peak

• Civilization peaked between 250 – 1000 AD• Known as the “Classic Period”• Powerful civic centers in Belize:

– Altun Ha– Lubaantun– El Pilar– Xunantunich– Caracol

Mayan Civilization – Decline

• Limited food production

• Climate change

• War

European Conquest

• Portugal, Spain, France, Britain and the Netherlands all began expanding

• Empire building took place in:– Africa– Asia– Americas

• Columbus sailed in 1492 and arrived in present-day Bahamas

European Colonization – Belize

• British buccaneers settled Belize

• Used the coastline and caysto prey upon Spanish fleets

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

European Colonization – Belize

• Spanish conquistadors traveled through Belize– Hernan Cortes: conquered Aztec empire in Mexico– Pedro de Alavaro: defeated the Maya in Yucatan

• Mayans in northern Belize fought back

• Most died from European disease

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1746-552

Slavery in Americas

• First African slaves in Americas – 1518

• Slave trade existed for more than 300 yrs

• Est. 15-20 million slaves transported

Slavery in Belize

• British woodcutters needed laborers

• Not enough locals

• Imported African slaves from Caribbean sugar plantations

http://brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/2006-07/06-108.html

Slavery in Belize

• 1700s–African slaves = majority of population– 75% African slaves– 10% white– 15% free Africans, mestizos, indigenous

• Slave trade ended – 1807

• Slavery abolished – 1833

Economical Exploitation of Belize

• Western European nations controlled economies of their colonies

• Development in Belize dictated by Europe

Forestry in Belize

• Forestry requires few people– This kept the population low

• Logwood– The main export for a time

• Mahogany– The price export

http://www.mamadoc.org/pics/dr-logwood-tree-big.html

http://www.roundriver.org/Peru.html

http://www.showcasehomesofamerica.com

http://www.entrydoorsbayarea.com/

Development of Merchant Class

• Import of nearly all necessities

• Merchants became wealthy/powerful

• Trade with Confederates during US Civil War

Land: A Monopoly

• European absentee land-owners

• Excluded indigenous peoples from owning

• Only land owners could vote

• By 1817, Britain controlled “unclaimed” land

Suppressing Agriculture

• Subsistence farming

• £1 per acre (1838)– This excluded

newly freed slaves

• Continued merchant monopoly

http://www.plentyaustin.org/belize.htm

Independence in European Colonies

• Workers’ Movements

• World War II

• India, Vietnam and many other nations declared their independence

• Nationalist Movements

Harsh Labor Laws

• Severe punishments for “crimes”– Missing a day– Leaving a job unfinished– Disobeying supervisor

– 3 months in jail with hard labor

Workers’ Resistance

• Mayan and slaves-turned-workers sought better wages and more control

• 1836-1936, $12-15 per month

• Company store– Indebted employees

Working Class Riots

• Currency devaluation– Same pay, worth less

• Racist treatment during WWI, WWII– Destruction of white-owned businesses– Universal Negro Improvement Assn. (UNIA)

• Great Depression

Nationalist Movements

• Large scale emigration– US: agriculture– Panama: canal building– Britain: forestry

• Peoples’ Committee (Peoples’ United Party)– Assault on colonialism

• General Workers’ Union– Alliance with laborers

Constitutional Struggle

• Economic conditions– Value of dollar

• Social conditions– Universal suffrage

• 1964 – Self government

Contention

• Spanish law of 1821

• All Spanish colonies remained same

• 1945 – Guatemala declared Belize as part

• Continued invasion threats (1972, ’75, ’77)– British military prevented invasions

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