ÿþ<html> <head> <title> WHKMLA : Historical Dictionaries : Central America</title> <!-- copyright Alexander Ganse, 2004-2006</head> <body bgcolor="lightblue" text="black" link="blue" vlink="red" alink="brown"> <style> <!-- A{ font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-face: arial; } --> </style> <DIV align ="center"> <TABLE border = "0" cellspace="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <TR> <TD align = "center" valign = "center"> <A HREF = "../../index.html"> <img src = "../../whkmla2.jpg" border = "0"></a></TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE border = "0" cellspace="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <TR> <TD width = "150" height = "36" align = "center" valign = "center"> <font size = "2" face = "arial"><B> Timeline </b></font></TD> <TD width = "36" height = "36" align = "center" valign = "center"> <A HREF = "../../timelines/wh/tlcamerica.html"> <img src = "../../region/arrowleft.gif" width = "36" height = "36" border = "0"> </a></TD> <TD align = "center" valign = "center"> <A HREF = "../../timelines/whchapters.html"> <img src = "../banhistdic.jpg" border = "0"> </TD> <TD width = "36" height = "36" align = "center" valign = "center"> <A HREF = "../../biographies/wh/biocamerica.html"> <img src = "../../region/arrowright.gif" width = "36" height = "36" border = "0"> </a></TD> <TD width = "100" height = "36" align = "center" valign = "center"> <font size = "2" face = "arial"><B> Biographies </b></font></TD></TR></TABLE> <font size = "3" face = "arial"><B><i>First posted on May 29th 2004 </i></b></font><BR><BR><BR><BR> <TABLE border = "0" cellspace="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <TR> <TD align = "center" valign = "center" width = "900"> <font face = "Times Roman" size = "5"><B> Historical Dictionaries : Central America </B></font> <BR> <font face = "Times Roman" size = "2"><i> http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histdic/wh/hdcamerica.html </i></font> </B></font></TD></TR></TABLE> <BR><BR> <TABLE border = "0" cellspace="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <TR> <TD align = "left" valign = "center" width = "150"> <font face = "Times Roman" size = "2"> <A NAME = "aztecs">Aztecs</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "bananarepublics">Banana Republics</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "belize">Belize</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "britishhonduras">British Honduras</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "california">California</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "campesinos">Campesinos</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "contras">Contras</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "conquistadores">Conquistadores</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "costarica">Costa Rica</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "darien">Darien</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "guatemala">Guatemala</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "hieroglyphs">Hieroglyphic Script</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "honduras">Honduras</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "irancontraaffair">Iran-Contra Affair</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "maya">Maya</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "mexicancivilwar">Mexican Civil War</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "mexico">Mexico</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "mosquitocoast">Mosquito Coast</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "nafta">NAFTA</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "nahuatl">Nahuatl</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "newspain">New Spain</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "nicaragua">Nicaragua</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "olmecciv">Olmec Civilization</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "panama">Panama</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "panamacanal">Panama Canal</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "peten">Peten</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "popolvuh">Popol Vuh</A> <BR> <A NAME = "pri">PRI</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "quetzalcoatl">Quetzalcoatl</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "elsalvador">El Salvador</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "sandinistas">Sandinistas</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "soccerwar">Soccer War</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "tenochtitlan">Tenochtitlan</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "texas">Texas</A> <BR><BR> <A NAME = "tlaxcala">Tlaxcala</A> <BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "unitedfruitcompany">United Fruit Company</A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <A NAME = "upca">United Provinces <BR> of Central America</A> <BR> <A NAME = "yucatan">Yucatan</A> <BR><BR><BR> </font></TD> <TD align = "left" valign = "center" width = "500"> <font face = "Times Roman" size = "2"> Mesoamerican people who referred to themselves as the Mexica. Established an Empire <BR> centered on Tenochtitlan (14th-16th century), which they expanded by the means of <BR> conquest. At the time of the Spanish conquest, the Aztec Empire controlled much of <BR> highland Mexico. Language Nahuatl. Polytheistic; had human sacrifices. <BR> derogatory expression used to describe a number of central American republics where <BR> the United Fruit Company determined politics. <BR> formerly British Honduras; gained independence in 1981. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xbelize.html">Belize pages</A> <BR> at this site <BR> jungle stretch on the Central American coast when the British first claimed part of it in <BR> 1642; long administrated from Jamaica. During wars with Spain in the 18th century, Br. <BR> Honduras was repeatedly evacuated. In 1862 established as a separate colony. Granted <BR> independence in 1981, when it was renamed Belize. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xbelize.html">British Honduras pages</A> <BR> at this site <BR> in the 18th century regarded as part of New Spain (Mexico). Franciscan friars established <BR> a chain of missions, beginning in San Diego in 1769. Spanish administration in California <BR> is romanticized in the Zorro legends. Following the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, <BR> (Northern) California was ceded by Mexico to the United States. The southern half is <BR> still Mexican. <BR> Spanish term for peasants, the mass of the population of Central America. The expression <BR> associates with poor, often illiterate people, having large families, being underpaid. <BR> short for contrarevolucionarios (counterrevolutionaries). name for a rightist, anti-Sandinista <BR> guerilla of exile Nicaraguans, largely recruited, trained, equipped and financed by the U.S. <BR> From bases in Honduras they undertook raids into their native Nicaragua (1980-1988). <BR> Spanish for conquerors; term used for 16th century Spanish adventurer-conquerors, who <BR> acted upon their own initiative, often in violation of orders given; taking on enormous risks, <BR> operating with rather limited resources. Their main goal was to gain personal fortunes; <BR> after having achieved a conquest, the conquistadores sometimes turned against each <BR> other. The archetype is Hernan Cortez, conqueror of the Aztec Empire. <BR> broke away from the United Provinces of Central America in 1838. The name translates to <BR> rich coast. In appearance, the most European country of Central America. Following a <BR> brief civil war in 1948, Costa Rica abolished her army. Has a comparatively high standard <BR> of education. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xcrica.html">Costa Rica pages</A> at this site <BR> stretch of the Caribbean coast of eastern Panama. Here in 1698-1699 Scots settled in an <BR> attempt to establish a colony; the undertaking failed due to disease and hostility from <BR> the Spanish. <BR> Core territory of the United Provinces of Central America (1821-1838); since 1838 <BR> independent as Guatemala. Became dependent on monocultures (coffee, bananas; <BR> "Banana Republic"). An attempt by Pres. Jacob Arbenz Guzman to implement a land <BR> reform (1951-1954) was foiled by the U.S.; in the 1980es and 1990es scene of a <BR> Dirty War. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xguatemala.html">Guatemala pages</A> at this site <BR> the term is descriptive; relates to written pictorial characters with a sacred meaning. <BR> The Egyptian and Maya hieroglyphic scripts have this characteristic in common, are <BR> otherwise unrelated. The beginning of writing in Mesoamerica is dated back to c. 700 <BR> B.C.; the decoding of the Maya script was begun in the 1960es. see article from <BR> became independent when the United Provinces of Central America disintegrated in <BR> 1838. Became dependent on monocultures cultivated for export (bananas); has <BR> developed a textile industry in recent decades. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xhonduras.html">Honduras pages</A> at this site <BR> In 1985 the U.S. secretly, via intermediaries, sold weapons to Iran. The profits were <BR> used to finance the Contras, an undertaking the US administration could not do <BR> openly. The matter was first published in 1986 and dominated the headlines of 1987 <BR> and early 1988. <BR> Mesoamerican civilization; beginnings dated back to 2000 B.C., Classic Period 200 <BR> to 900 A.D., post-Classic period 900 to 1500. The Maya never were united in one <BR> state, but rather consisted of a number of kingdoms centered on cities, often engaged <BR> in war with each other. They had in common a language, a polytheistic religion. <BR> Mexico went through a number of civil wars, from 1858 to 1861, from 1862 to 1867 <BR> (with foreign intervention), from 1910 to 1920. They, as well as the secessions of <BR> Texas and Yucatan, indicate the fragile nature of the Mexican state in the 19th <BR> century, held together by a central government, which was not always capable of <BR> enforcing its authority. <BR> declared independence from Spain in 1821; Empire 1822-1823, when E, Agustin <BR> Iturbide failed in his attemt to conquer Central America; during dictatorship of <BR> Santa Ana Texas seceded; in 1848 large stretch of territory ceded to USA; in <BR> 1858-1867 fought over in civil war with outside intervention; since 1920 (rule by the <BR> PRI) more stable; in the 1990es democracy implemented. With c. 100 million <BR> inhabitants Central America's most important natuon. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xmexico.html">Mexico pages</A> <BR> at this site <BR> stretch of land on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the homeland of the Mosquito <BR> (Miskito) Amerindians. Located in the lowlands; outside of the control of the Spanish <BR> administration; under inofficial, temporarily official protection of the British; in 1860 <BR> annexed by Nicaragua; Mosquito autonomy cancelled in 1894. <BR> North American Free Trade Agreement, members Canada, U.S., Mexico; went into effect <BR> in 1994. <BR> language spoken, in the 16th century, by the Azrecs and other native people from <BR> Mexico; still spoken by an estimated 1.5 million people. <BR> the Viceroyalty of New Spain, with her capital in Mexico City, and covering Mexico <BR> with her former territories in the north, extending into Central America, established <BR> in 1538, dissolved in 1821. From 1565/1571 to 1821, even the Philippines and Guam <BR> were administrated as part of New Spain. <BR> became independent when the United Provinces of Central America disintegrated in <BR> 1838. From the 1890es to 1930es frequently invaded by U.S. troops; from the 1930es <BR> to 1979 ruled by the Somoza dynasty of dictators, from 1979 to 1990 ruled by <BR> the leftist Sandinistas. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xnicaragua.html">Nicaragua pages</A> <BR> Civilization in Mexico, flourished 1200-800 B.C., developed hieroglyphic writing; <BR> declined after 800 B.C. <BR> discovered in 1509, crossed by Vasco Nunez de Balboa in 1513, Panama City est. <BR> in 1519, became vital junction of Spanish colonial Empire; as part of Republic of <BR> Grand Colombia independent from Spain in 1819; independence from Colombia <BR> declared in 1903. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xpanama.html">Panama pages</A> at this site <BR> first attempt by French (Ferdinand de Lesseps) to dig Panama Canal failed 1881-1889. <BR> After Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903, U.S. leased Panama <BR> Canal Zone in 1903, dug canal (opened 1914). Canal Zone returned to Panama in 1999. <BR> region in inland Guatemala; jungle country. Here the last independent Maya state held <BR> out until conquered in 1697. <BR> literally, Council Book; the "bible" of the Quiche Maya. <BR> Partido Revolucionario Institutional (Institutional Revolutionary Party), dounded in <BR> Mexico in 1929; ruled country until 1990. The presidency usually was decided in <BR> backroom deals. To be credited both for the relative political stability Mexico <BR> enjoyed in those decades and for the corruption which came with it. <BR> Aztec name for a deity looking like a feathered snake. Worship included human <BR> sacrifice. <BR> became independent with the disintegration of the United Provinces of Central <BR> America in 1838. Comparatively high population density; here Indigo and coffee are <BR> cultivated. Went through a Dirty War in the 1970es to 1990es; most famous <BR> victim Archbishop Oscar Romero. see <A HREF = "../../region/centramerica/xelsalvador.html">El Salvador pages</A> at this site <BR> named after a Nicaraguan patriot who fought US intervention and US cronies in the <BR> 1930es, a leftist guerilla organization founded in 1961 (FSLN); took power in <BR> Nicaragua by ousting dictator Anastazio Somoza in 1979; ousted in a free <BR> election in 1990. see article from <BR> With the national teams of El Salvador and Honduras competing for a slot <BR> qualifying for participation in the 1970 World Cup held in Mexico, the Salvadorian <BR> army launched an attack on Honduran territory. The shooting war lasted for six <BR> days; thousants of Salvadorians working in Honduras were expelled. El Salvador <BR> qualified for the World Cup. <BR> Aztec capital, founded in 1325 on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco (and, <BR> according to sources, partially floating). Destroyed by the Spaniards in 1520; on <BR> her ruins, Mexico City was built. <BR> Spanish settlements in Texas were established in the 18th century. Texas <BR> declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and joined the U.S. in 1845. <BR> Amerindian people / state which, at the time of Cortez' expedition, had preserved <BR> their independence. They were surrounded by Aztec territory. Tlaxcalans served <BR> Cortez as auxiliary forces on his expedition. <BR> established in 1899, the UFC came to dominate politics in a number of Central <BR> American countries. The frequent US invasions of these countries, in many cases, <BR> were to protect her interests; most notably the coup against Guatemaltecan <BR> president Jacob Arbenz Guzman in 1954. The company was split up in a number <BR> of successor firms in 1970. <BR> declared independence from Spain in 1821; overrun by Emperor Agustin Iturbide <BR> of Mexico 1822-1823, then independent again, disintegrated in 1838. <BR> Mexican province located on the tip of the Yucatan peninsula; declared <BR> independence from Mexico in 1839 (reintegrated in 1843) and briefly in 1847. <BR> Both attempts were unsuccessful. <BR> </font></TD> </TR></TABLE> <BR><BR> <TABLE border = "0" cellspace="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <TR> <TD align = "left" valign = "center" width = "700"> <font face = "Times Roman" size = "2"> PRINTED REFERENCE : <BR> Theodore S. Creedman, <A HREF = "http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0810810409/">Historical Dictionary of Costa Rica</A>, Scarecrow 1977 [G] <BR> </font></TD></TR></TABLE> <BR><BR> </DIV> </DIV> <DIV align="center"> <A href="mailto:aganse@hotmail.com"> <IMG src="../../email.gif" border="0"></a><BR> </DIV><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <!-- Start of CH Counter --> <script type="text/javascript"> //<!-- // chCounter v2.0.0 // settings: cstatus = "active"; visible = "0"; path_to_counterfile = "http://www.zum.de/whkmla/counter/counter.php"; urlhp = "http://www.zum.de"; //////////////// url = unescape(location.href); file = url.substring(url.lastIndexOf(urlhp) + urlhp.length, url.length); file = (file.charAt(0) != "/") ? 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