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From ancient Mayans to modern maquilas (tax-free manufacturing plants), Honduras has changed to suit the needs of the various groups competing for its resources.
The country’s history begins with indigenous peoples who began cultivating the land around 1,000 B.C. Early settlements were steadily eclipsed by the Mayan empire, which dominated the region of Copán from A.D. 150 - 900. Then, around 1,200, the Mayans gave way to the Lencas, who flourished until the Spanish arrived in the 1500s to claim gold and territory.
After three centuries of Spanish rule, Honduras gained independence in 1821. However, the country remained consolidated with Mexico and then the Central American Federation and didn’t become truly sovereign for another 20 years.
Decades leading up to the 20th century have been marked by a series of coups and rebellions between political factions and military regimes. But the modern era has seen relative stability as international businesses, namely U.S. fruit companies and manufacturers, invested in Honduras’ infrastructure to ensure profits from tariff-free exports.
More recently, Honduras has struggled with a surge in gang activity and the destructive effects of natural disasters. Politicians promise to curb gang violence, and proponents of free trade continue to push for the creation of new maquilas they claim will help the country fully recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. |
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Fast Facts
- Honduras’ currency, the lempira, is named after the Lenca king who nearly drove the Spanish out of the country.
- Roatán, in the Bay Islands, was home to hoardes of British and Dutch pirates in the 1600s.
- At the end of the 19th century, U.S. fruit companies owned most of the land along the northern coast and eventually controlled 75 percent of the country’s banana groves.
- Honduras joined the U.S. and declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy at the start of World War II.
- In 1969, Honduras and El Salvador engaged in a weeklong war called "The Soccer War." Tensions erupted over border disputes and illegal immigration at the same time the two countries faced off in qualifying matches for the World Cup.
- Hurricane Mitch killed some 5,700 people and left more than a million homeless.
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