978-1-4222-3285-9

This ornate Mayan carving (opposite) depicts a sun and water god. (Right) On February 8, 2008, Dean Barrow was sworn in as Belize's first black prime min- ister. He won a second term as prime minister when his United Democratic Party (UDP) maintained its legislative majority in the 2012 election. 2

A History Different from the Rest of Central America

THE ANCIENT HISTORY of Belize is similar to that of its Central American neighbors, but Belize’s modern history is quite different. A branch of the powerful Mayan civilization flourished in the region. But the Spanish empire, which came to Central America during the 16th century, never established a strong foothold. As a result, no European conquest displaced the Amerindian population. Instead, English settlers and peoples from the Caribbean created a culture apart from the rest of Central America. Puritans and Pirates The Mayan civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 B . C . and A . D . 300 and flourished until about A . D . 1200. Archaeologists estimate that at

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