Most of modern
Central America was part of the
Mesoamerica cultural area in
Pre-Columbian times. The
Native American civilizations of Mesoamerica extended from central Mexico down to Costa Rica. The Precolumbian cultures of Panama traded both with Mesoamerica and the cultures of
South America, and can be considered transitional between the two cultural areas.
After the
Spanish Conquest in the
16th century, most region now known as
Central America shared a common history. The exceptions were the 2 nations at the north and south ends of Central America.
Panama was part of Spanish
New Granada, and then of the nation of
Colombia, until
1903.
Belize was the
United Kingdom colony of British Honduras until
1973.
In the 16th century until the early 19th century Central America was part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain, administered by the Captain General's administration in Antigua Guatemala and later Guatemala City.
In
1821 the area became part of the
Mexican Empire under
Augustin de Iturbide. Independence from Mexico was discussed from the begining, and when Mexico became a republic it acknowledged Central America's right to determine it's own destiny.
In
1823 the nation of Central America was formed. It was known alternately as "The United States of Central America" or "The United Provinces of Central America", but most commonly simply as "Central America". The Central American nation consisted of the states of
Guatemala,
El Salvador,
Honduras,
Nicaragua, and
Costa Rica. In the
1830s an additional state was added,
Los Altos, with its capital in
Quetzaltenango, occupying parts of what is now the Western Guatemala highlands and
Chiapas, Mexico.
Presidents of Central America:
The Union dissolved in civil war 1838-1840. Various attempts were made to reunite Central America in the 19th century, but none succeded for any length of time. The first attempt was in 1842 by former President Morazan, who was captured by rebels and exicuted. Guatemalan President Justo Rufino Barrios attempted to reunite the nation by force of arms in the 1880s and was also killed in the process. A union of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador as the Republic of Central America lasted from 1896 through 1898.
Despite the failure of a lasting political union, the sense of shared history and hopes for eventual reunification persist in the nations formerly in the union; all 5 fly flags that are modified versions of the old flag of the United States of Central America, a white stripe between two blue stripes, representing the land between two oceans.
In 1907 the Central American Court of Justice was formed.
On December 13, 1960 the Central American Common Market ("CACM") was established by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua with hopes of greater political unification to follow; however little progress has yet been made in that direction.
History of the present-day nations of Central America:
- History of Belize
- History of Costa Rica
- History of El Salvador
- History of Guatemala
- History of Honduras
- History of Nicaragua
- History of Panama
See also:
- History of Mexico