The year 2020 will mark 385 years since the first European English, pirates to be clear, landed at the mouth of the Belize River. The Spaniards “owned” the land by Papal decree. The Spanish did not come to this part of their territory – it was back water to them. After all the silver and goal from the mines of the Mexican Aztecs and the Peruvian Inca had their attention very focused. They hardly loaned a glance at this part of “their” territory.
Before either the Spaniards or the English or before the idea of “ownership” of the land, the Maya were here. In fact on the North the Chetumal, to the South the Manchechol and in the center and West of the country, the Dzuluinicob. The Maya were the first on the land. Descendants of Paleoindian groups who came over from Eurasia following large game such as mastodons and cave bear, and mammoths.
Eventually after the processes of treaties happened between England and Spain, the British were given the right first to cut logwood (which was used for dying in the woolen industry) and later the mahogany industry was negotiated. This mahogany industry was kind of works the British, former pirates, would not do. Hence the advent of Africans forced to be here as slaves, were introduced.
Sooner more than later, the British had children with the Africans, introducing the first Creoles (children born here with parents from different continents). So the Creoles became the second group who originally could claim they were originals of the colony then country.
Later three other groups came into the country. The Kekchi and Mopan Maya came into the southern part of the country and settled predominantly in the Toledo District (the earlier group, the Manchechol were pushed back by the British and their Mahogany operations). Around 1802, the Garifuna make their first appearance (they will bring their families and settle full-time on the southern coast of Belize in fishing villages and the “culture capital: Dangriga town. From the northern border, out of the Yucatan, the Yucatec Maya swarmed into the British Honduras space after the war of the Caste which started in 1847.
The rest, like the above, is history!
Belize has become a secret thats out. Its 8,867 square miles of real estate on the American mainland, just below Mexico and bordered on the West and South by Guatemala, is a gift from the gods who commanded the land to be rich with rivers and valleys and forests and the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
Its an amazing place. Rich with biodiversity and culture. Designed in its fabric, are perhaps the friendliest people on the planet. Its a place that brings with it some raw, uncivilized opportunities for nature lovers; over 500 species of birds for bird watchers; ancient Maya cities and much food for culture and history buffs. The place is prepared for you.
Its time to come to Belize.