The northern province was part of the historic Mayan area but they were no longer there when Columbus arrived in 1502. They had moved to Yucatan.

The area was invaded by Spaniards and disputed between the colonial governments of Panama and Mexico. It became part of the Guatemala jurisdiction from 1539. In the 18th century the English controlled part of the Atlantic coast (the Mosquito Coast) but they abandoned it.

Independence of Spain came in 1821. In 1822 it was part of the Mexican Empire. From 1823 it was part of United Provinces of Central America but left in 1838. The American United Fruit Company entered during the early 20th cent. The usual form of government is military dictatorships, especially from the 1950s onwards. Elections are sometimes held but the results are believed to reflect the wishes of the military rather than the people.

A large proportion of the people are descended from the original inhabitants of the country, but they are not allowed to take part in political and military life.

Honduras was used during the 1980s as a base for United States supply and training to the Nicaraguan Contra guerrillas.

Spanish

Amerindian langs

There is a constitution with President and Congress and elections. What causes a great deal of cynicism is that, as in the whole of Central America except Costa Rica and Belize, the real power exists outside this system and that elections are suspected of being manipulated by: intimidating opposition candidates into not standing; ballot box stuffing; and outright murder.

Thus the constitution does not reflect the wishes of the people. The government represents the army and the landowners rather than the people. That is, it may be classified as an oligarchy or even an apartheid regime.

In July 2009 the elected president, reputed to be a "leftist" was deposed by the army. Ostensibly this was because he had proposed to hold a referendum to allow him to be re-elected - the Constitution specifies a single term.

Banana growing area, with feudal structure.

Erosion of land on which forest formerly grew.

Highest rate of HIV infection outside Africa.

Imprisonment without trial and disappearances occur. No rule of law or welfare.

Very high rate of murders - 85 per 100,000 caused by drug gangs, corrupt police, and a breakdown of society.

Death squads and street children. A feudal economy does not provide jobs for the numerous children whose parents cannot support them. How far is this the result of Catholic prohibition of contraception?

Hurricanes can be expected to increase in destructive power - already quite bad enough.