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THE ANCIENT HISTORY of Belize is similar to that of its Central American
neighbors, but Belize’s modern history is quite different. A branch of the
powerful Mayan civilization flourished in the region. But the Spanish
empire, which came to Central America during the 16th century, never
established a strong foothold. As a result, no European conquest displaced
the Amerindian population. Instead, English settlers and peoples from the
Caribbean created a culture apart from the rest of Central America.
Puritans and Pirates
The Mayan civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500
B
.
C
. and
A
.
D
. 300 and flourished until about
A
.
D
. 1200. Archaeologists estimate that at
A History Different from
the Rest of Central America
This ornate Mayan carving (opposite)
depicts a sun and water god. (Right)
On February 8, 2008, Dean Barrow was
sworn in as Belize's first black prime min-
ister. He won a second term as prime
minister when his United Democratic
Party (UDP) maintained its legislative
majority in the 2012 election.
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