The Early Days
Long before European exploration and colonization, our lush land was inhabited by the ancient Maya civilization. Flourishing between 2500 BCE and 1000 CE, the Maya established a sophisticated society characterized by remarkable achievements in agriculture, mathematics, astronomy, and architecture. Belize served as a pivotal region within the vast Mayan world, with advanced urban centres which were interconnected by extensive trade routes to awe-inspiring cities, such as Caracol and Lamanai. The intricately designed temples stand as enduring testaments to the Mayan people’s intellectual and artistic capabilities.
1400s – 1700s
In 1494, Spain and Portugal ratified this agreement via the Treaty of Tordesillas. Other European powers, including Great Britain, soon saw the potential in claiming already inhabited territories in the Americas. To meet the high labour demands of exploiting resources, African slaves were shipped to Belize from Jamaica, after they had forcibly been brought over across the Atlantic.
Throughout the 1700s, the economy was based on timber (logwood and later mahogany) extraction and exportation to London from the port in Belize Town, now Belize City. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and the Treaty of Versailles (1783) affirmed the right of the Baymen to exploit logwood in the territory between the Rio Hondo and Belize rivers.
The Baymen and slave populations grew, eventually establishing Burnaby’s Code in 1765, which was a set of regulations designed to bring order to the settlement. Due to the consolidation of political and social influence over the territory, in 1798, the Spaniards attempted to drive the Baymen out of the territory but lost, culminating in history as the Battle of St. George’s Caye.
Beginning of British Honduras
In 1834, slavery was finally abolished in Belize; however, four more years of apprenticeship stood in the way of total freedom for the enslaved. Over time, the Baymen and Creoles, were joined by influxes of refugees from Nicaragua, the Yucatan Peninsula, and St. Vincent (now making up the Mestizo and Garifuna population), as well as by indentured servants from India and China. Much later, all these groups were joined by the Mennonites and many Central American refugees.
In 1871, the settlement became a crown colony by the name of British Honduras, with a Lieutenant-Governor who reported to Jamaica. It was not until 1884 that the Lieutenant-Governor was replaced by a Governor who reported directly to London.
In the 19th Century, due to fluctuations and setbacks in the demands for mahogany and logwood, more attention was given to agricultural commodities such as sugar, bananas, and coconuts. A new forest commodity was also added to the dossier—chicle, and the sugar industry was developed. This diversification provided the colony with varying degrees of economic stability.
20th Century – Belize
A new era brought about the Labourers and Unemployed Association (1934), led by Antonio Soberanis, which rallied for better salaries and working conditions. The Labour Movement started with the General Workers Union in 1943 and other social justice movements, including the Christian Social Action Group (1947), from which emerged the now ‘Father of the Nation’, Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price.
The People’s Committee, the precursor to the People’s United Party (PUP, 1950), was formed amid protests incited by the devaluation of the dollar in 1949. Leigh Richardson, George Price and Philip Goldson led the party, whose objective was to end colonialism by attaining independence. After strenuous efforts, Belize achieved Universal Adult Suffrage in 1954 and Self-Government in 1964. The National Independence Party (1958), the People’s Development Movement and the Liberal Party became the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 1973. These developments provided for the two-party system we currently have.
When the United Nations was founded, its principles of equal rights and self-determination enabled colonies to obtain independence. In 1980, a UN resolution supported Belize’s independence and called on the UK to continue to ensure security of Belizean territory. On 21 September 1981, the flag was raised above an independent nation that looked hopeful towards a prosperous future.
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