The Spanish Influence: How Honduras Shaped The Early Settlement Of Belize

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, has a rich history dating back to the ancient Maya, who settled in the region around 1500 BC. The Maya built impressive cities and created a sophisticated society with a highly developed system of writing, art, mathematics, and astronomy.

In the 16th century, the Spanish arrived in the region and claimed the area. However, the Maya fiercely resisted, and the Spanish did not establish a strong presence in what is now Belize. In the 17th century, the British established several settlements, initially using the area for the exploitation of forestry resources such as logwood and mahogany. The British brought African slaves to work in the logging industry, but Indian indentured workers were eventually brought in when slavery was abolished.

As British settlements grew, the Spanish attacked several times, attempting to retain their land until the British ultimately defeated them in 1798 in what is known as the Battle of St. George's Caye. In 1862, the area was officially recognized as a crown colony of Britain and was named British Honduras.

Forestry dominated the early economy of British Honduras, with logwood, mahogany, and sapodilla (used for its gummy sap known as chicle) all being exploited. When logging declined, the focus shifted to producing tropical products, such as sugar and bananas.

During the 1950s and '60s, British Honduras experienced an increase in political activism, accompanied by a strong push for liberation from British governance. This effort resulted in the attainment of self-government in 1964, ultimately culminating in full independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981. Signalling a break from its colonial past, the country was officially renamed Belize in June 1973. The name is believed to have Mayan origins, stemming from the word Balix, which means muddy water.

The Maya Civilization

The Maya built great cities and temples, and over 900 of these sites still exist in Belize alone. Major archaeological Mayan sites in Belize include Cuello, dating from around 12000 BC, and Cahel Pech, an ancient palace, which dates from around the same time. There are also the cities of Altun Ha and Xunantunich from the Classic Period, which ran from around 250 AD to 900 AD.

The Maya were very advanced, developing the only known writing system in the Pre-Columbian Americas. They also made advances in mathematics and astronomy. Their civilization wasn’t so much one unified empire, but more like a network of city-states. City-states traded with, allied with, and often fought with each other.

After several hundred years, the Mayan civilization collapsed around 900 AD. Historians and scientists are unsure what caused this collapse, but theories include overpopulation and drought. Whatever happened, the Mayan cities of Belize were abandoned and public work projects came to a halt. By the time the first Europeans arrived, the people were there but the grand civilization that they had built was gone.

European Exploration

The first recorded European incursions in Belize were made by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century. However, it was British settlers who began European exploration in Belize in 1638.

Early European Exploration

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain tried to maintain a monopoly on trade and colonisation in its New World colonies. However, northern European powers were attracted to the region by the potential for trade and settlement. These powers resorted to smuggling, piracy, and war to challenge Spanish dominance.

In the 17th century, English buccaneers began cutting logwood in southeastern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula. Logwood was used in the production of textile dye. English buccaneers began using the Belize coastline as a base from which to attack Spanish ships.

The First Settlements

The first permanent British settlement in what is now Belize was founded in the late 1710s on Cayo Cosina, following the destruction of earlier British logging settlements in the Laguna de Términos region, west of the Yucatán. The British settlement grew with the addition of disbanded British soldiers and sailors after the capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655.

The Logwood Trade

In the mid-17th century, a British pirate in Belize discovered that the region had an abundance of logwood. This was a game-changer for the British, who began shipping logwood back to Europe. An anti-piracy treaty in 1667 further encouraged the pirates to become logwood merchants. The first exports of logwood from Belize occurred in 1680, and the first permanent settlements came into being.

The Treaty of Madrid

In 1670, Britain and Spain signed the Treaty of Madrid, which recognised British claims to territories in the New World. However, the Caribbean coast of Central America had poorly defined boundaries. The British ruled an area called the Mosquito Coast, which ran from Belize to Nicaragua, but its exact boundaries were unclear. The British settled in Belize, where there was the least Spanish incursion.

Spanish Attacks

Throughout the 18th century, Spanish forces continued to attack the British logwood traders in Belize. However, the Spanish never maintained a permanent presence in the region, and the British always returned. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris conceded to Britain the right to cut logwood but asserted Spanish sovereignty over the territory. A later treaty in 1783 affirmed these boundaries and allowed the British to cut mahogany, which soon became Belize's most lucrative export.

The Battle of St. George's Caye

In 1796, the Spanish made one final attempt to take back control of Belize, which had become a de facto British colony. In 1798, the British settlers defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye. This was the last Spanish attempt to control the territory, and Britain became the undisputed colonial power in Belize.

Belize's Independence

Belize, a country on the northeastern coast of Central America, was a British colony from 1840 until it achieved independence on 21 September 1981.

The Road to Independence

In the 1950s, Belize was the only country in Central America that was not yet independent. The fervour for independence grew, and the UK began granting British Honduras more autonomy. By 1964, the colony was only responsible for defence, security, and foreign affairs.

In 1973, the name "British Honduras" was dropped in favour of "Belize". In 1975, negotiations for independence began, but they were hindered by neighbouring Guatemala's claim to sovereignty over Belizean territory. Guatemala's longstanding territorial dispute stems from an unclear border between the two countries when the British and Spanish were hashing out who owned what. Guatemala has continued to assert that Belize is its 23rd district.

Post-Independence

Belize became independent on 21 September 1981, recognised by the whole world except for Guatemala. The first prime minister of an independent Belize was George Cadle Price, an independence activist who had been active in Belizean politics since the 1940s.

Belize has maintained a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. It is the only mainland Central American country that is a Commonwealth realm.

Despite achieving independence, Belize has continued to face border tensions with Guatemala. In 2018, Guatemala held a referendum to determine if the territorial claim should be taken to the International Court of Justice, with 95% of Guatemalans voting yes. A similar referendum was held in Belize in 2019, with 55.4% of voters opting to send the matter to the ICJ.

The Belize-Guatemala Territorial Dispute

In 1763, the Treaty of Paris relinquished British claims in the area in exchange for economic rights, and by the 1820s, Spain had lost control of Central America. The newly independent nations of Central America claimed they had inherited Spain's territorial rights, and Guatemala insisted on control of all of Belize or a split of the territory along the Sibun River. However, Britain forced Guatemala to recognise British claims, and in 1859, the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty established the modern-day borders of Belize. The treaty also included an article on building a mutually beneficial road, though this never came to fruition.

In the late 1930s, Guatemala renewed its claims on the area, arguing that Britain's failure to build the road meant the 1859 treaty was void. Tensions flared throughout the 20th century, with Guatemala periodically threatening invasion and Britain stationing troops in Belize to secure the region. In 1945, the new Guatemalan constitution even declared Belize part of Guatemalan territory.

In 1976, Guatemala's "string of victories over leftist guerrillas" led some in the government to suggest they should "take over Belize". However, an earthquake struck Guatemala's capital, and the government once again acknowledged Belize's independence. Belize finally declared official independence from the UK in 1981, later than many other former colonies due to the persistent threat posed by Guatemala.

In 1999, Guatemala shifted its stance back to inheriting claims from the Spanish Empire and the Federal Republic of Central America, claiming over half of Belize's land mass. This led to both countries stationing troops at the border, with a one-kilometre "adjacency zone" drawn on either side of the 1859 treaty borders.

In 2008, Belize and Guatemala agreed to hold simultaneous referendums to send the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The referendums passed in both countries by 2019, and as of 2022, both nations have submitted their initial briefs to the ICJ. The court is not expected to rule until 2025 at the earliest.

The Caste War

In 1850, the apparition of the "Talking Cross" inspired the Maya of the southeast to continue the struggle. Chan Santa Cruz, or Small Holy Cross, became the religious and political centre of the Maya resistance, and the rebellion became infused with religious significance. The war unofficially ended in 1901 when the Mexican army occupied Chan Santa Cruz and subdued the surrounding areas, though skirmishes with small settlements that rejected Mexican control continued until 1933.

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