Spanish-English Translation Dictionary by Ultralingua. $19.99
The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. until the late 15th century when Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas. After conquering Mexico, conquistador Hernan Cortes commissioned Pedro de Alvarado to explore the areas to the south, and in 1523 and 1524, Alvarado defeated and subjugated the Mayan groups of Guatemala.
As happened in countries around the world, hundreds of thousands of indigenous people died due to violence, but more often from diseases brought in by their conquerors to which they had not developed immunities: smallpox, malaria, measles, typhus, influenza and common colds.
In the 17th century, Antigua became one of the richest capitals in the New World. Always vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, floods and earthquakes, Antigua was largely destroyed by two earthquakes in 1773. Guatemala?s third capital, Guatemala City, was founded in 1776, after Antigua was abandoned.
Guatemala gained independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821. It briefly became part of the Mexican Empire and then, for a period, it belonged to the federation called the United Provinces of Central America. However, Guatemala had only brief periods of representative government. 1871 to 1898 marked the era of Gen. Justo Rufino Barrios' liberal regime, under which widespread land expropriations were made. Barrios built Puerto Barrios on Amatique Bay.
During the 1800s, about 5,000 German's were in Guatemala managing coffee plantations. Central America, and particularly Guatemala, produces some of the finest, if not the finest coffees in the world. Coffee is a valuable crop traded around the world.
In addition to shipping crops around the world, orchids were introduced from Central and South America to Europeans. One John Lindley (1799-1865), as "orchid authority for British horticulture," began receiving orchids from world ports. This resulted in "Sertum Orchidaceum: A Wreath of the Most Beautiful Orchidaceous Flowers," by John Lindley which is bound in leather and includes handcoloured lithographed plates; the book is now worth approximately $40,000.
September 9, 1878, IRON
London, United Kingdom
GUATEMALA.—A narrow-gauge railroad has been proposed in Guatemala, and agents are now in San Francisco for the purpose of interesting capitalists in the scheme. It is understood that a section of thirty miles, to penetrate the coffee region, will be first built, and, if successful, the road will be extended to the capital of the State. Should the necessary capital be secured in San Francisco, it is claimed that the trade of Guatemala will be attracted to that city. If the necessary aid can not be secured there, an appeal will be made to the capitalists of the East or of Europe.
December 7, 1898, IRON
London, United Kingdom
SHOULD BE SHOWY.
Counsul Beaupre Tells What
Goods Will Sell Well in Guatemala.
Washington, Dec. 5--Mr. Beaupre, consul general at Gautemala, in his annual report to the state department says that the United States has maintained her lead in imports into Guaemala during the past year, and in some important lines the gain has been most gratifying. With Great Britain and Germany she practically controls the foreign trade of Guatemala. He says that the bulk of United States goods are too good for this market. They should be made to sell cheaply, but should be showy with colors and tinsel.
Most of the granite ware comes from Germany being low in price, but it is so light and cheap that it cannot last long.
The United States established the United Fruit Company (UFCO) in 1902, which included ownership of a railroad and 40 percent of the country's most fertile land, in addition to control of the port facilities in Puerto Barrios, which they turned into Guatemala's main port. Ships from around the world docked in Puerto Barrios.
