Belize History

Summary
From InfoPlease.com: "The first recorded European settlement was begun by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. Over the next 150 years, more English settlements were established. This period was also marked by piracy, indiscriminate logging, and sporadic attacks by Indians and neighboring Spanish settlements. Both Spain and Britain lay claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the battle of St. George's Cay (1798). It became a colony of Great Britain in 1840, known as British Honduras, and a Crown colony in 1862. Full internal self-government was granted in Jan. 1964. In 1973, the country changed its name to Belize. Belize became independent on Sept. 21, 1981."

Other Links

 * Wikipedia's History of Belize
 * A History of Belize, Nation in the Making
 * The Early History of Belize
 * Belize History
 * globalEDGE's Belize: History