History of Belize

The history of this country shows the important influences of Central and South America and the Caribbean as well:

1502 Christopher Columbus journeys by St. Georges Caye
1524-1525 Hernando Cortez probably passed through Belize traveling from Mexico to Honduras
1582 Spanish Franciscan monks built a church at Lamanai
1566 Governor of the Yucatan began taxing logwoods
1570 Pirates begin coming to the area
1629 Phillip IV of Spain created coast guard to ward off pirate activity
1640 Indian uprising in Bacalar
1642 Pirates sacked Bacalar
1670 Spain and England sign treat allowing England to stay in areas where they were already logging
1779 Spanish attacked the colony
1783 Treat of Versailles recognized boundaries of logwood activities in Belize
1796 England and Spain go to war; England wins
1859 Boundaries with Guatemala set
1862 Belize became a British crown colony
1981 Belize gained independence

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