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their peak, 1 to 2 million Amerindians lived within the borders of present-
day Belize. Several major archaeological sites, such as Caracol, Lamanai,
Lubaantun, Altun Ha, and Xunantunich, were once great Mayan towns
with farmland between them. No one knows for certain what caused the
disappearance of the Maya. Perhaps it was war, loss of faith, famine, or a
series of natural disasters. Eventually, the civilization declined, leaving
behind small groups whose descendants continue to live mainly in Belize
and Guatemala. By the time the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, many
of the Mayan cities were deserted.
European contact began in 1502 when Christopher Columbus sailed
along the coast. He did not come ashore, however, only naming the bay
bordering the southern part of the giant barrier reef the Bay of Honduras.
The first recorded European settlement in the region happened acci-
dentally. In 1638, a band of shipwrecked English sailors landed on the
Belize
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buccaneer—
a pirate who preyed on Spanish ships in the Caribbean during the 17th
century.
galleon—
a heavy square-rigged sailing ship of the 15th to early 18th centuries used for
war or commerce.
Monroe Doctrine—
United States’ foreign policy that does not permit European control
or influence in the Western Hemisphere.
parliamentary democracy—
a system of government in which a legislative body is
responsible for making the laws. The people elect the members of Parliament.
Words to Understand in this Chapter