The History of Central America

Thomas L. Pearcy

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2005
• ISBN:
  9780313060281
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Latin American & Caribbean History
• Index: History

Central America is an extraordinarily beautiful part of the world, with sweeping panoramic vistas of tropical vegetation, towering mountains, and striking ethnic and racial diversity. This tropical paradise has a history as diverse as its people and cultures. Starting with the Maya in ancient Mesoamerica, the History of Central America continues with European contact and the subsequent subjugation of the people of Central America. Spaniards established and ruled their Central American empire during the Colonial period. This led to the National period, independence movements, and the subsequent development of independent, sovereign Central American nations. By the mid-20th century, the economies, governments, and populations of the seven republics had evolved so distinctly that each has its own unique set of challenges to deal with today. Pearcy examines the development of each individual nation and the regional similarities that propelled or constrained that development. Ideal for students and general readers, the History of Central America is part of Greenwood's Histories of Modern Nations series. With over 30 nations' histories in print, these books provide readers with a concise, up-to-date history of countries throughout the world. Reference features include a biographical section highlighting famous figures in Central American history, a timeline of important historical events, a glossary of terms, and a bibliographical essay with suggestions for further reading.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Series Foreword
• Timeline of Historical Events
• 1 Introduction to the Seven Nations of Central America
• 2 Early Central America
• 3 From United Provinces to Independent States: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• 4 Panama: From Colombian Province to Occupied State
• 5 The United States and Central America
• 6 The Cold War I: Communism and “Freedom Fighters”
• 7 The Cold War II: Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama
• 8 Central America in the Twenty-First Century
• Notable People in the History of Central America
• Glossary of Foreign Language Words and Key Concepts
• Central American History: A Bibliographic Essay
• Index