The Central American country of Guatemala was the center of the great civilization of the Maya. The Indian influence in the country remains strong. In the 20th century Guatemala experienced unstable governments and violence. The capital is Guatemala City. GeographyGuatemala covers an area of 42,042 square miles (108,889 square kilometers). It is bordered on the west and north by Mexico; on the east by Belize, the Caribbean Sea, Honduras, and El Salvador; and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. Guatemala has a varied landscape. Along the Pacific coast in the south is a narrow coastal plain. Containing many short rivers, the plain is a rich farming region and home to most of the country's people. North of the plain is a row of volcanoes that stretches from the Mexican border into El Salvador. The volcano Tajumulco is the highest peak in Central America at 13,845 feet (4,220 meters). The middle part of the country consists of mountains. The large, somewhat rectangular region in northern Guatemala is known as the Petén. This is a heavily forested, remote area with few people. It is known for its Mayan ruins. Guatemala is a tropical country, but the climate varies with the height of the land. The low-lying coastal regions and the Petén are hot year-round, but temperatures are cooler at higher elevations. Most of the country has a dry season from November to April, but the Caribbean coast receives rain all year. The country experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and violent rainstorms. Plants and animalsMost of Guatemala's forests are in the Petén and the central mountains. The tropical rain forests of the Petén are rich in fine woods and rubber. This region also has savanna grasslands. Oak and pine forests are found in the mountains. The natural vegetation of the Pacific coastal plain consists mostly of mangrove swamps. The tropical wildlife of northern Guatemala includes jaguars, monkeys, and parrots. The rain forests are also home to the brightly colored quetzal, which is the national bird of Guatemala. The survival of many animals has been threatened by the destruction of forests. Inland lakes and lagoons and the bordering seas contain abundant marine life. People and cultureThe people of Guatemala are divided into two main groups: Ladinos and American Indians. The Ladinos usually have both Indian and Spanish ancestors and make up more than half of the population. They have adopted Western clothing and customs. Most of the rest of the people are Mayan Indians who continue to follow their traditional way of life. Small numbers of blacks and whites also live in Guatemala. Spanish is the official language, but many Indians speak their own languages. The majority of the people are Roman Catholics. Many Indians combine Roman Catholicism with traditional Mayan beliefs. Most of the rest of the people are Protestants. About 40 percent of Guatemalans live in cities or towns. Guatemala City, the bustling capital, has more than one million people. It lies in a valley of the central mountains. Most of the rest of the major cities are near the Pacific coast. - Brilliantly costumed Indian women shopping at the Almolonga market in the western highlands of …
Guatemalans take pride in their Mayan heritage, and a number of traditional arts are still practiced. Especially well known are the colorful textiles produced by Indian weavers. The Guatemalan writer Miguel Angel Asturias was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1967. EconomyMore than half of the people of Guatemala work in agriculture, but it accounts for only a fourth of the country's economic output. Many farmers grow only enough food to feed their families. The main food crops are corn (maize), beans, and squashes. Commercial farms produce coffee, bananas, cotton, sugar, and livestock for export. Manufacturing in Guatemala is more advanced than it is in other Central American countries. Products include food, clothing and textiles, metals and metal products, and chemicals. The mining industry is small, but some oil is exported. Tourism and trade are major sources of income. HistoryThe Maya first settled in farming villages in what is now Guatemala perhaps earlier than 1500 BC. They eventually developed an advanced civilization that spread throughout present-day Guatemala as well as southern Mexico and northern Belize. Mayan culture reached its height between AD 250 and 900. During this period the Maya built large cities and temples, especially in the Petén region of northern Guatemala. Many of the temples are still standing. Spanish rule to independenceAfter 900 Mayan civilization began to decline. In 1523 Spanish soldiers led by Pedro de Alvarado invaded Guatemala and conquered the Maya. The Spanish used the city now known as Antigua Guatemala as their capital. When the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, the capital was moved to nearby Guatemala City. Under Spanish rule the Maya and other Indians were forced to work on plantations and in mines. They were also exposed to deadly European diseases. Guatemala, along with the other Spanish colonies in Central America, achieved independence from Spain in 1821. Guatemala then became part of the short-lived Mexican Empire. In 1823 Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua formed a union called the United Provinces of Central America. The union broke up in 1839, and Guatemala became an independent republic. Dictators and civil warFor much of the next hundred years Guatemala was ruled by a series of dictators. They encouraged economic development in the country, but they ignored the terrible living conditions of the peasants. Large landowners became wealthy while peasants became even poorer. Beginning in 1945 Guatemala's leaders introduced many reforms designed to help the peasants and other workers. In 1954, however, an invasion led by an exiled Guatemalan military officer drove the reformist president from power. The United States supported the invasion because the Guatemalan government had tried to take away land belonging to a U.S. fruit company. The new government reversed most of the reforms of the previous ten years. During the next 40 years Guatemala was ruled by a series of military leaders or civilians under the control of the military. Forces opposed to the government fought against it. More than 100,000 people died in the course of the long civil war, most killed by government forces. Many more Guatemalans fled to Mexico and elsewhere. The military's domination of Guatemalan politics finally ended in the 1990s. A peace agreement between government and rebel leaders was signed in 1996. In the early 21st century the country continued to recover from the civil war. Population (2000 estimate), 11,385,000. |