The isthmus connecting North and South America is called Central
America. It has a rich history. The people are a mixture of
races.
Central America is the isthmus between North and South America. The
countries of Central America are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
History
Central America was once the empire of the Mayan Indians. The Mayan nation has existed for nearly 3,000 years. At one time, the Mayan Empire stretched from southern Mexico into Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It was at its peak of power in the years 250 to 900 A.D. There are still Mayan Indians in Central America today.
The Mayans once had great cities. They built roads as good as the
Romans, made pyramids like the Egyptians, and knew as much science as the
Greeks. Some Mayan cities covered 50 square miles and had 55,000
people living in them.
For many years people who wrote history ignored the great Mayan
civilization. Students learn about ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece,
but not about the Mayans. Now scientists are studying the Mayan
ruins. They are learning much more about this great civilization
which outlived many other great nations.
Colonization
In the 1500s, the Spanish colonized all of Central America except Belize, which was colonized by England. Because of the colonization, Spanish is the most common language in Central America.
The Spanish colonialist mixed with the American Indians. They formed a separate ethnic group which is now known as mestizos. The majority of people in Central America are mestizos. Because the Spanish brought slaves from Africa and East India, there are descendants of these people in Central America as well. Panama has the largest population of African-American people.
Indians suffered a great deal after the Spanish colonized the area. Thousands were killed. Many thousands more died of smallpox and other diseases which the Spanish passed to them. Whole nations were wiped out. This made it easier for the Spanish to take over the land.
There are still many Indian nations in Central America. They have their own language and cultures. The largest Indian group is the Maya.
Indians still suffer. They are discriminated against in every country. For example, in Guatemala the Indians are the majority, but they have no rights. The people of Spanish origin oppress them. As recently as 1932 in El Salvador, the army was ordered to kill anyone who looked Indian. The Indians are the poorest people in Central America.
Economy
The countries in Central America have a warm climate which is good for agriculture. They export sugar, cotton, coffee, beef, fruits, and vegetables.
Most of the people in Central America are extremely poor. This is because a few people control the resources. The land in Central America is controlled by large landowners. The workers do not have land of their own. They work on the large farms. Because there is little employment other than farm work, the landowners are able to pay very low wages. Most of the people working on farms are unable to buy enough food to stay healthy.
There is another problem related to land in Central America. The soil in the area is very poor. This means that crops can be grown for a short time, but soon the soil wears out.
Central America is suffering great environmental damage from modern farming. Ancient forests are being cut. This leads to a loss of animal and plant life. It also destroys the forests where many Indian people hunt, fish, and gather food.
Government
The countries in Central America are often in the news. They have had great political problems. Although they work toward democracy, many times civil wars break out. The governments have murdered thousands of people. Many people disappear.
Religion
The Spanish colonizers brought Catholic missionaries with them. Today most people in Central America are Catholic.
The Catholic Church has been very involved in politics in Central America. Many church members feel that poverty must be ended and wealth must be shared more equally. In parts of Central America, the Catholics believe in what is known as "liberation theology." The idea behind this belief is that it is the role of Christians to fight injustice.
Isthmus – A small narrow strip of land connecting two larger pieces of land.
Empire – Territory or area which has been expanded from the original area through wars or colonization.
Ruins – Remaining parts of buildings, roads, etc., which are left after a city is destroyed or no longer in use.
Colonize – Taking over an area of land by a government outside of that area.
Mestizos – People of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry.
Descendents – Children, grandchildren, and others in a family.
Civil war – A war in which a group of people in a country fight their own government.
