 |
|
Timeline of Maya History | ||
Chema Cox La Huida de las Vírgenes / The Flight of the Virgins |
| BCE | ||
| 11000 | First settlers in Maya highlands and lowlands | |
| 3114-3113 | Creation of the world, by Maya Long Count calendar | |
| 2000 | Rise of Olmec civilization, a source of Maya culture | |
| 1800 BCE to 250 CE | Preclassic Maya |
|
| 700 | Development of writing | |
| 400 | Use of carved stone solar calendars | |
| CE | ||
| 250-600 | Early Classic Maya | |
| 600-900 | Late Classic Maya | |
| 900-1500 | Post Classic Maya | |
| 1517 |
Arrival of Spanish in Yucatan
Introduction of Old World diseases, which kill off 90% of the indigenous population within 100 years. |
|
| 1521-1821 | Colonial Period | |
| 1524 |
Maya defeated by Pedro de Alvarado Guatemala becomes Spanish colony |
|
| 1724 | Abolition of encomienda system of forced Maya labor by Spanish | |
| 1821 |
Guatemalan independence from Spain |
|
| 1910 |
Mexican Revolution United Fruit Company, a U.S. corporation, becomes the most important landowner and employer in Guatemala |
|
| 1944-1953 | Democratic reforms begin | |
| 1953 |
Guatemalan government expropriates 40% of the land of the United Fruit Company. | |
| 1954 |
U.S.-backed coup puts an end to land reform, ending nationalization of plantations of United Fruit Company. | |
| 1960-1996 |
Genocidal civil war by Guatemalan military—funded, trained, and armed
by the United States. More than 640 indigenous villages destroyed. |
|
| 1992 | Rigoberta Menchú, a Quiché Maya woman, wins the Nobel Peace Prize. | |
| 1996 | Signing of Peace Accords | |
| 2004 | Departure of UN mission that monitored the peace process | |
| Present |
Continued corruption, bribery, narco-trafficking, gang violence. Upsurge of femicide: the torture, rape and murder of women, with virtual impunity. |