World History
History of Costa Rica. This is a brief but helpful overview to the Central American nation of Costa Rica.
From the site:
In 1502, on his fourth and last voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus made the first European landfall in the area. Settlement of Costa Rica began in 1522. For nearly three centuries, Spain administered the region as part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala under a military governor. The Spanish optimistically called the country "Rich Coast." Finding little gold or other valuable minerals in Costa Rica, however, the Spanish turned to agriculture.
The small landowners' relative poverty, the lack of a large indigenous labor force, the population's ethnic and linguistic homogeneity, and Costa Rica's isolation from the Spanish colonial centers in Mexico and the Andes all contributed to the development of an autonomous and individualistic agrarian society. An egalitarian tradition also arose. This tradition survived the widened class distinctions brought on by the 19th-century introduction of banana and coffee cultivation and consequent accumulations of local wealth.
Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. Although the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes broke out among them, adding to the region's turbulent history and conditions. Costa Rica's northern Guanacaste Province was annexed from Nicaragua in one such regional dispute. In 1838, long after the Central American Federation ceased to function in practice, Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign.
- Hernando De Soto - Spanish Explorer
Hernando De Soto - Spanish ExplorerThere is no accurate record of when Hernando De Soto was born in Spain, but historians believe it was in 1500. Being from a poor community, De Soto looked to the New World to make his fortune. He left on February 25,...
- History Of Honduras
History of Honduras. This is a brief history of the Central American nation of Honduras. The Encyclopædia Britannica notes, "Country of Central America situated between Guatemala and El Salvador to the west and Nicaragua to the south and east. The Caribbean...
- History Of Guatemala
History of Guatemala. Provides an excellent summary overview to the history of this Central American nation. From the site: The Mayan civilization flourished throughout much of Guatemala and the surrounding region long before the Spanish arrived, but...
- History Of El Salvador
History of El Salvador. This is a brief overview to the history of the Central American nation of El Salvador. From the site: In 1821, El Salvador and the other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain. When these provinces were...
- History Of Uruguay
History of Uruguay. This is a short but informative overview to the history of the South American nation of Uruguay. From the site: The only inhabitants of Uruguay before European colonization of the area were the Charrua Indians, a small tribe driven...
World History
History of Costa Rica
History of Costa Rica. This is a brief but helpful overview to the Central American nation of Costa Rica.
From the site:
In 1502, on his fourth and last voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus made the first European landfall in the area. Settlement of Costa Rica began in 1522. For nearly three centuries, Spain administered the region as part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala under a military governor. The Spanish optimistically called the country "Rich Coast." Finding little gold or other valuable minerals in Costa Rica, however, the Spanish turned to agriculture.
The small landowners' relative poverty, the lack of a large indigenous labor force, the population's ethnic and linguistic homogeneity, and Costa Rica's isolation from the Spanish colonial centers in Mexico and the Andes all contributed to the development of an autonomous and individualistic agrarian society. An egalitarian tradition also arose. This tradition survived the widened class distinctions brought on by the 19th-century introduction of banana and coffee cultivation and consequent accumulations of local wealth.
Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. Although the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes broke out among them, adding to the region's turbulent history and conditions. Costa Rica's northern Guanacaste Province was annexed from Nicaragua in one such regional dispute. In 1838, long after the Central American Federation ceased to function in practice, Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign.
- Hernando De Soto - Spanish Explorer
Hernando De Soto - Spanish ExplorerThere is no accurate record of when Hernando De Soto was born in Spain, but historians believe it was in 1500. Being from a poor community, De Soto looked to the New World to make his fortune. He left on February 25,...
- History Of Honduras
History of Honduras. This is a brief history of the Central American nation of Honduras. The Encyclopædia Britannica notes, "Country of Central America situated between Guatemala and El Salvador to the west and Nicaragua to the south and east. The Caribbean...
- History Of Guatemala
History of Guatemala. Provides an excellent summary overview to the history of this Central American nation. From the site: The Mayan civilization flourished throughout much of Guatemala and the surrounding region long before the Spanish arrived, but...
- History Of El Salvador
History of El Salvador. This is a brief overview to the history of the Central American nation of El Salvador. From the site: In 1821, El Salvador and the other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain. When these provinces were...
- History Of Uruguay
History of Uruguay. This is a short but informative overview to the history of the South American nation of Uruguay. From the site: The only inhabitants of Uruguay before European colonization of the area were the Charrua Indians, a small tribe driven...