rom the 15th century onwards, nations in Europe began to conquer and settle the Americas as part of a world-wide process in which they also controlled Africa, Asia and Oceania. This system of taking control of foreign land is called colonialism. At this time European societies were developing and expanding very fast.

Explorations were launched in search of more wealth and resources. Europeans took control of the land and riches, and forced the indigenous people to work for them. In the Americas millions of the original population died from wars and disease. Later, European settlers and people from Africa and Asia were brought to work for the colonizers.

The colonization of Belize by the British was part of this world-wide process. In addition to its indigenous inhabitants, Belizeans are now a mixture a people from many parts of the world : form Europe, Africa and Asia as well as the Americas.

In Part One we will look at the growth of European colonization and its impact on the Caribbean and Belize. We will also look at the slave trade and the system of slavery. But first, we will find out who the original people of Belize were before the Europeans came.