On this day 35 years ago, Belize was born.
Before that, this land was known as British Honduras for centuries, the home of Baymen, slaves, and British colonists. British Honduras lived from 1862-1981.
Before British Honduras, there were a number of colonial settlements, with the Spanish and British fighting and competing over trade during an age of rampant piracy.
And before even the first Baymen set foot on this land, and for many, many centuries, this was the home of the Mayan people, who settled sometime between 1500BC and 300AD and stayed until the mid 16th century, as their civilization collapsed.
You’ve come a long way, Belize. Happy 35th birthday.
