La Republica de Guatemala

“Libertad 15 de septiembre de 1821”

Renee Pinkston2008

History• Once inhabited by the Mayans, mostly in the

Petén basin in northern Guatemala.• After the fall of the Maya empire, the Spanish

made many trips into Guatemala.• Under the Spanish rule, Guatemala extended

from the Yucatan peninsula to Costa Rica. This area was not as rich in resources as Mexico and therefore not considered as important.

• On September 15, 1821, Guatemala, officially proclaimed its independence from Spain.

• Eventually the state split into the different countries of Central America we have today.

Basic Facts• Current president: Alvaro Colom• Divided into 22 departments (states).• Population: 12 million• Listed as one of the most biodiverse

regions

Culture• Museums:– Home of many museums and

libraries, most of which house extensive Maya artifacts.

• Language:– Official language: Spanish– 21 distinct Maya languages are

spoken• Religion– About 1/3 of the population is

Protestant– The rest of the population are Jewish,

Buddhist, catholic, or practice an indigenous religion.