Belize, and English Speaking Country
- Submitted by: Barefootmegs
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- Category: History
- Date Submitted: 03/07/2011 07:49 PM
- Pages: 3
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Taking Belize as an example, identify at least one factor or aspect that differentiates it from the historical experiences of Central and South America.
One factor that differentiates Belize from Central and South America is its language. Although Belize and Central and South America are at times defined by the legacy of Europeans; whether by Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, or Dutch, the fact remains that the European influence looms larger than the indigenous people or even those who were brought or those who later chose to migrate to Belize, Central and South America.
European countries since the 15th century began to conquer and settle the Americas as part of a worldwide process. Explorations were launched in search of more wealth and resources. While Portuguese sailors explored the West, Spanish sailors explored the East. The Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria were the first to land in the Caribbean. Sailed by the Spanish Christopher Columbus in 1492, one of these ships came upon what we know as The Bahamas, although Spanish sailors believed they had reached China and India. This discovery was referred to as “the New World”. Spanish ships to Belize arrived in 1508.
Because the new world was discovered by the Spanish, they wanted only Spanish people, Spanish trade, Spanish, religion and Spanish government to control the lands. Spain defended its monopoly by destroying island people and during this process conquered the civilizations on the mainland. In the late 1519 and early 1520 Herman Cortes conquered the Aztec in Mexico. Other expeditions were sent to conquer what is now Guatemala and Honduras. Cortes himself passed though the south-west corner of Toledo district in 1525. The Spanish tried to conquer all of Belize, moving south from Lamanai in New River lagoon and Tipu in the Cayo district, but all attempts on the Maya eventually failed. The Maya fought back. They burnt the churches the Spanish missionaries built and...
One factor that differentiates Belize from Central and South America is its language. Although Belize and Central and South America are at times defined by the legacy of Europeans; whether by Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, or Dutch, the fact remains that the European influence looms larger than the indigenous people or even those who were brought or those who later chose to migrate to Belize, Central and South America.
European countries since the 15th century began to conquer and settle the Americas as part of a worldwide process. Explorations were launched in search of more wealth and resources. While Portuguese sailors explored the West, Spanish sailors explored the East. The Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria were the first to land in the Caribbean. Sailed by the Spanish Christopher Columbus in 1492, one of these ships came upon what we know as The Bahamas, although Spanish sailors believed they had reached China and India. This discovery was referred to as “the New World”. Spanish ships to Belize arrived in 1508.
Because the new world was discovered by the Spanish, they wanted only Spanish people, Spanish trade, Spanish, religion and Spanish government to control the lands. Spain defended its monopoly by destroying island people and during this process conquered the civilizations on the mainland. In the late 1519 and early 1520 Herman Cortes conquered the Aztec in Mexico. Other expeditions were sent to conquer what is now Guatemala and Honduras. Cortes himself passed though the south-west corner of Toledo district in 1525. The Spanish tried to conquer all of Belize, moving south from Lamanai in New River lagoon and Tipu in the Cayo district, but all attempts on the Maya eventually failed. The Maya fought back. They burnt the churches the Spanish missionaries built and...