Conquistadors Era of Conflict
The nearly simultaneous invasions of Honduras in 1524 by rival Spanish Conquistador expeditions began an era of conflict among rival Spanish Conquistador claimants as well as with the indigenous population. The major initial expeditions were led by González Dávila, who hoped to carve out a territory for his own rule, and by Cristóbal de Olid, who was dispatched from Cuba by Cortés. Once in Honduras, however, Olid succumbed to personal ambition and attempted to establish his own independent authority. Word of this reached Cortés in Mexico, and to restore his own authority, he ordered yet another expedition, this one under the command of Francisco de Las Casas. Then, doubting the trustworthiness of any subordinate, Cortés set out for Honduras himself. The situation was further complicated by the entry into Honduras of expeditions from Guatemala under Pedro de Alvarado and from Nicaragua under Hernando de Soto.
In the initial struggle for power, Olid seemed to gain the upper hand, capturing both González Dávila and Las Casas. His captives, however, having managed to subvert the loyalty of some of Olid's men, took Olid prisoner, and then promptly beheaded him. Although later condemned for this action by a Mexican court, none of the conspirators ever suffered any real punishment.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/conquistadors.html
Friday, May 14, 2010
Honduras Colonial History
Honduras Colonization Spreads and Mining Growth
The defeat of Lempira's revolt, the establishment of the bishopric (first at Trujillo, then at Comayagua after Pedraza's death), and the decline in fighting among rival Spanish factions all contributed to expanded settlement and increased economic activity in the 1540s. A variety of agricultural activities were developed, including cattle ranching and, for a time, the harvesting of large quantities of sasparilla root. But the key economic activity of sixteenth-century Honduras was mining gold and silver.
The first mining centers were located near the Guatemalan border, around Gracias. In 1538 these mines produced significant quantities of gold. In the early 1540s, the center for mining shifted eastward to the Río Guayape Valley, and silver joined gold as a major product. This change contributed to the rapid decline of Gracias and the rise of Comayagua as the center of colonial Honduras. The demand for labor also led to further revolts and accelerated the decimation of the native population. As a result, African slavery was introduced into Honduras, and by 1545 the province may have had as many as 2,000 slaves. Other gold deposits were found near San Pedro Sula and the port of Trujillo.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/hondurascolonialhistory.html
The defeat of Lempira's revolt, the establishment of the bishopric (first at Trujillo, then at Comayagua after Pedraza's death), and the decline in fighting among rival Spanish factions all contributed to expanded settlement and increased economic activity in the 1540s. A variety of agricultural activities were developed, including cattle ranching and, for a time, the harvesting of large quantities of sasparilla root. But the key economic activity of sixteenth-century Honduras was mining gold and silver.
The first mining centers were located near the Guatemalan border, around Gracias. In 1538 these mines produced significant quantities of gold. In the early 1540s, the center for mining shifted eastward to the Río Guayape Valley, and silver joined gold as a major product. This change contributed to the rapid decline of Gracias and the rise of Comayagua as the center of colonial Honduras. The demand for labor also led to further revolts and accelerated the decimation of the native population. As a result, African slavery was introduced into Honduras, and by 1545 the province may have had as many as 2,000 slaves. Other gold deposits were found near San Pedro Sula and the port of Trujillo.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/hondurascolonialhistory.html
Conquistadors Era of Conflict
Conquistadors Era of Conflict
The nearly simultaneous invasions of Honduras in 1524 by rival Spanish Conquistador expeditions began an era of conflict among rival Spanish Conquistador claimants as well as with the indigenous population. The major initial expeditions were led by González Dávila, who hoped to carve out a territory for his own rule, and by Cristóbal de Olid, who was dispatched from Cuba by Cortés. Once in Honduras, however, Olid succumbed to personal ambition and attempted to establish his own independent authority. Word of this reached Cortés in Mexico, and to restore his own authority, he ordered yet another expedition, this one under the command of Francisco de Las Casas. Then, doubting the trustworthiness of any subordinate, Cortés set out for Honduras himself. The situation was further complicated by the entry into Honduras of expeditions from Guatemala under Pedro de Alvarado and from Nicaragua under Hernando de Soto.
In the initial struggle for power, Olid seemed to gain the upper hand, capturing both González Dávila and Las Casas. His captives, however, having managed to subvert the loyalty of some of Olid's men, took Olid prisoner, and then promptly beheaded him. Although later condemned for this action by a Mexican court, none of the conspirators ever suffered any real punishment.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/conquistadors.html
The nearly simultaneous invasions of Honduras in 1524 by rival Spanish Conquistador expeditions began an era of conflict among rival Spanish Conquistador claimants as well as with the indigenous population. The major initial expeditions were led by González Dávila, who hoped to carve out a territory for his own rule, and by Cristóbal de Olid, who was dispatched from Cuba by Cortés. Once in Honduras, however, Olid succumbed to personal ambition and attempted to establish his own independent authority. Word of this reached Cortés in Mexico, and to restore his own authority, he ordered yet another expedition, this one under the command of Francisco de Las Casas. Then, doubting the trustworthiness of any subordinate, Cortés set out for Honduras himself. The situation was further complicated by the entry into Honduras of expeditions from Guatemala under Pedro de Alvarado and from Nicaragua under Hernando de Soto.
In the initial struggle for power, Olid seemed to gain the upper hand, capturing both González Dávila and Las Casas. His captives, however, having managed to subvert the loyalty of some of Olid's men, took Olid prisoner, and then promptly beheaded him. Although later condemned for this action by a Mexican court, none of the conspirators ever suffered any real punishment.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/conquistadors.html
The Spanish Conquest Settlement of Honduras
The Initial Explorations
European contacts with the indigenous peoples of Honduras began with the final voyage of Christopher Columbus. In 1502 Columbus sailed past the Islas de la Bahia (The Bay Islands of Honduras) and shortly thereafter reached the mainland of Central America. While at one of the islands, Columbus discovered and seized a large canoe loaded with a wide variety of trade goods. Evidence seems to indicate that the canoe's occupants were Mayan traders and that their encounter with Columbus marked his first direct contact with the civilizations of Mexican and northern Central America. Despite the fact that the canoe had been observed coming from the west, Columbus turned east and then south, sailing away from the civilizations and doing little exploring on the Honduras coast. His only direct legacy was the assigning of a few place names on the Caribbean coast, notably Guanaja for one of the Islas de la Baia, Cabo Gracias a Dios for the eastern extremity of Honduras, and Honduras (depths in Spanish) for the overall region. The latter name suggests the deep waters off the northern coast.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/spanishconquestsettlement-honduras.html
European contacts with the indigenous peoples of Honduras began with the final voyage of Christopher Columbus. In 1502 Columbus sailed past the Islas de la Bahia (The Bay Islands of Honduras) and shortly thereafter reached the mainland of Central America. While at one of the islands, Columbus discovered and seized a large canoe loaded with a wide variety of trade goods. Evidence seems to indicate that the canoe's occupants were Mayan traders and that their encounter with Columbus marked his first direct contact with the civilizations of Mexican and northern Central America. Despite the fact that the canoe had been observed coming from the west, Columbus turned east and then south, sailing away from the civilizations and doing little exploring on the Honduras coast. His only direct legacy was the assigning of a few place names on the Caribbean coast, notably Guanaja for one of the Islas de la Baia, Cabo Gracias a Dios for the eastern extremity of Honduras, and Honduras (depths in Spanish) for the overall region. The latter name suggests the deep waters off the northern coast.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/spanishconquestsettlement-honduras.html
Indigenous Groups Honduras
Indigenous Groups Honduras
In Honduras following the period of Mayan dominance, the area that would eventually comprise Honduras was occupied by a multiplicity of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous groups related to the Toltec of central Mexico migrated from the northwest into parts of what became western and southern Honduras. Most notable were the Toltec speaking Chorotega, who established themselves near the present day city of Choluteca. Later enclaves of Nahua speaking peoples, such as the Pipil, whose language was related to that of the Aztec, established themselves at various locations from the Caribbean coast to the Golfo de Fonseca on the Pacific coast.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/indigenousgroupshonduras.html
In Honduras following the period of Mayan dominance, the area that would eventually comprise Honduras was occupied by a multiplicity of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous groups related to the Toltec of central Mexico migrated from the northwest into parts of what became western and southern Honduras. Most notable were the Toltec speaking Chorotega, who established themselves near the present day city of Choluteca. Later enclaves of Nahua speaking peoples, such as the Pipil, whose language was related to that of the Aztec, established themselves at various locations from the Caribbean coast to the Golfo de Fonseca on the Pacific coast.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/indigenousgroupshonduras.html
Mayans Honduras/Pre Columbian/Mayan Heritage
Mayans in Hondurs
Pre-Columbian Honduras was populated by a complex mixture of indigenous peoples representing a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and linguistic groups the most advanced and notable of which were related to the Maya of the Yucatan and Guatemala. Mayan civilization had reached western Honduras in the fifth century A.D. Probably spreading from low land Mayan centers in Guatemala's Peten region. The Maya spread rapidly through the Rio Motagua Valley, centering their control on the major ceremonial center of Copan, near the present-day town of Santa Rosa de Copan. For three and a half centuries, the Maya developed the city, making it one of the principal centers of their culture. At one point, Copan was probably the leading center for both astronomical studies in which the Maya were quite advanced and art.
One of the longest Mayan hieroglyphic inscriptions ever discovered was found at Copan. The Maya also established extensive trade networks spanning as far as central Mexico.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/mayanshonduras.html
Pre-Columbian Honduras was populated by a complex mixture of indigenous peoples representing a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and linguistic groups the most advanced and notable of which were related to the Maya of the Yucatan and Guatemala. Mayan civilization had reached western Honduras in the fifth century A.D. Probably spreading from low land Mayan centers in Guatemala's Peten region. The Maya spread rapidly through the Rio Motagua Valley, centering their control on the major ceremonial center of Copan, near the present-day town of Santa Rosa de Copan. For three and a half centuries, the Maya developed the city, making it one of the principal centers of their culture. At one point, Copan was probably the leading center for both astronomical studies in which the Maya were quite advanced and art.
One of the longest Mayan hieroglyphic inscriptions ever discovered was found at Copan. The Maya also established extensive trade networks spanning as far as central Mexico.
Read More: http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/mayanshonduras.html
Honduras
Honduras History
Mayans Honduras/Pre Columbian/Mayan Heritage
indigenous Groups/Honduras/others
Spanish Conquest and Settlement/Initial Explorations
Conquistadores In Conflict
Honduras Colonial History
These are just some of the topics we will cover here.
http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/index.html
Mayans Honduras/Pre Columbian/Mayan Heritage
indigenous Groups/Honduras/others
Spanish Conquest and Settlement/Initial Explorations
Conquistadores In Conflict
Honduras Colonial History
These are just some of the topics we will cover here.
http://www.roatan.ws/honduras/index.html
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