Honduras was home to several important Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya, before the Spanish colonization in the sixteenth century. The Spanish introduced Catholicism and the now predominant Spanish language, along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture. Honduras became independent in 1821 and has since been a republic, although it has consistently endured much social strife and political instability, and remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 1960, the northern part of what was the Mosquito Coast was transferred from Nicaragua to Honduras by the International Court of Justice.
The nation's economy is primarily agricultural, making it especially vulnerable to natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The lower class is primarily agriculturally based while wealth is concentrated in the country's urban centers. Honduras has a Human Development Index of 0.625, classifying it as a nation with medium development. When adjusted for income inequality, its Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index is 0.443. (Full article...)
Pyramid at los Naranjos archeological site. Considered the oldest man made structure of Honduras.
Honduras has been inhabited by a number of indigenous peoples, the most powerful of which, until the ninth century CE, were the Maya. The western-central part of Honduras was inhabited by the Lenca while other indigenous peoples settled in the northeast and coastal regions. These peoples had their conflicts but maintained commercial relationships with each other and with other populations as distant as Panama and Mexico.
On July 30, 1502, Christopher Columbus first saw Honduran soil and claimed the territory in the name of his sovereigns, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. He named the area "Honduras" (meaning "depths") for the deep water off the coast. In 1523 the first expeditionary forces arrived under the command of Gil Gonzales de Avila, who hoped to rule the new territory. In 1524, Cristobal de Olid arrived with the same intent on behalf of Hernán Cortés. Olid founded the colony Triunfo de la Cruz and tried to establish his own independent government. When Cortes learned of this, he sent a new expedition, headed by Francisco de las Casas. Olid managed to capture his rivals, but was betrayed by his men and assassinated. Cortes himself then traveled to Honduras and established his government in the city of Trujillo before returning to Mexico in 1526. Honduras formed part of the colonial era Captaincy General of Guatemala. The cities of Comayagua and Tegucigalpa developed as early mining centers. (Full article...)
The following are images from various Honduras-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1The dictatorship of Carias Andino is remembered as the longest dictatorship that Honduras has ever had (from History of Honduras)
Image 2In 1986 Honduras bombed two Nicaraguan towns. (from History of Honduras)
Image 3The church of la Merced in the city of Comayagua was the first Cathedral of Honduras in 1550 and is the oldest Honduran church still standing. (from History of Honduras)
Image 4After the 2009 coup d'état, the military presence in the streets began to be more common. (from History of Honduras)
Image 24Mayan representative hieroglyphic of the Yax Kuk Mo Dynasty that later would became the emblem of the Kingdom of "Oxwitik" also known as Copán. (from History of Honduras)
Image 38Group of dancers with typical costumes from Honduras. (from Culture of Honduras)
Image 39The railroad transportation suffered a lot of economic issues and disadvantages during the 2000s, it was not until 2010 passenger trains where reactivated. (from History of Honduras)
Image 49An open homemade baleada with eggs, butter, cheese and beans (from Honduran cuisine)
Image 50Diablos Negros, is a Honduran hard Rock band active since the 1980s. (from Culture of Honduras)
Image 51Train station in La Ceiba during the 1920s. The locomotives were one of the main means of transportation in Honduras during the 20th century. (from History of Honduras)
Image 53First coat of arms of Honduras given by the emperor Charles I of Spain an 5th of the Holy Roman empire. By the time of the colonial era Honduras suffered a demographic change due the arrival of Spanish immigrants (from History of Honduras)
The dictatorship of Carias Andino is remembered as the longest dictatorship that Honduras has ever had (from History of Honduras)
In 1986 Honduras bombed two Nicaraguan towns. (from History of Honduras)
The church of la Merced in the city of Comayagua was the first Cathedral of Honduras in 1550 and is the oldest Honduran church still standing. (from History of Honduras)
After the 2009 coup d'état, the military presence in the streets began to be more common. (from History of Honduras)
Lencan cloth. (from Culture of Honduras)
Coat of Arms of Trujillo, one of the oldest towns founded by the Spanish in Honduras.
Wilson Palacios (from Culture of Honduras)
Pre Columbian pottery. (from Culture of Honduras)
Painting depicting the chief Lempira fighting against a conquistador (from History of Honduras)
Honduran army in 1926. (from History of Honduras)
Mayan rain god Chaac representation at the Mayan Sculpture Museum in Copán. (from Culture of Honduras)
General Luis Bogran. (from History of Honduras)
Sawdust carpet in Holy Week. (from Culture of Honduras)
Old presidential palace of Honduras. (from History of Honduras)
Graifuna traditional dance. (from Culture of Honduras)
La Merced plaza of Comayagua after the independence from Spain. (from History of Honduras)
The Central American peace conference in 1907. (from History of Honduras)
After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés made his journey to the region of las Hibueras, modern day Honduras. (from History of Honduras)
Mayan stellae. (from Culture of Honduras)
European pirates, especially British, French, and Dutch attacked Honduran towns during the colonial era.
American troops arriving in Honduras in 1988 during Operation Golden Pheasant. (from History of Honduras)
The Fortress of San Fernando de Omoa (from History of Honduras)
Footballer Porfirio Betancourt, 1981, one of the first hispanic players for the NASL. (from Culture of Honduras)
Mayan representative hieroglyphic of the Yax Kuk Mo Dynasty that later would became the emblem of the Kingdom of "Oxwitik" also known as Copán. (from History of Honduras)
Pork chop with plantain chips. (from Honduran cuisine)
Tegucigalpa after the Mitch Hurricane. (from History of Honduras)
Traditional dance of Honduras. (from Culture of Honduras)
Fried fish from Lake Yojoa (from Honduran cuisine)
One of the Pyramids of Los Naranjos, considered the oldest structures of Honduras.
Sopa de caracol (conch soup) (from Honduran cuisine)
Pyramid 102 of Yarumela, one of the oldest Honduran archeological sites. (from History of Honduras)
Honduran armed conflict of 1907. (from History of Honduras)
Honduran Police in San Francisco, Lempira (from Crime in Honduras)
Central Park in San Pedro Sula, where several cultural events take place throughout the year. (from Culture of Honduras)
Tela's railroad company building, built in 1919. (from History of Honduras)
Honduran Police in a rural area. (from Crime in Honduras)
Group of dancers with typical costumes from Honduras. (from Culture of Honduras)
The railroad transportation suffered a lot of economic issues and disadvantages during the 2000s, it was not until 2010 passenger trains where reactivated. (from History of Honduras)
The SS Contessa, a Honduran ship that participated in the Operation Torch in the north African campaign in the Second World War. (from History of Honduras)
Port of Amapala. (from History of Honduras)
Emilio Izaguirre (from Culture of Honduras)
Honduran emerald (Amazilia luciae) (from Flora and fauna of Honduras)
National Theater and opera, Manuel Bonilla (from Culture of Honduras)
Cafe Guancasco, is one of the best exponents of Honduran pop rock. (from Culture of Honduras)
Actress America Ferrera. (from Culture of Honduras)
Holy Week in Honduras. (from Culture of Honduras)
Casamiento, a rice and beans dish (from Honduran cuisine)
An open homemade baleada with eggs, butter, cheese and beans (from Honduran cuisine)
Diablos Negros, is a Honduran hard Rock band active since the 1980s. (from Culture of Honduras)
Train station in La Ceiba during the 1920s. The locomotives were one of the main means of transportation in Honduras during the 20th century. (from History of Honduras)
San Cristóbal fortress, in the city of Gracias, built during the 19th century. (from History of Honduras)
First coat of arms of Honduras given by the emperor Charles I of Spain an 5th of the Holy Roman empire. By the time of the colonial era Honduras suffered a demographic change due the arrival of Spanish immigrants (from History of Honduras)
President Manuel Bonilla. (from History of Honduras)
Xiomara Castro became the first woman to gain a presidential charge in Honduras. (from History of Honduras)
The Virgin of Suyapa (from Culture of Honduras)
City of Comayagüela in the 2010s (from History of Honduras)
Central American president General Francisco Morazán Quezada.
Typical Honduran breakfast. (from Culture of Honduras)
Honduran National Congress, built during the 1950s (from History of Honduras)
Roger Espinoza (from Culture of Honduras)
Oldest train still preserved in Honduras. (from History of Honduras)
Lempira, Lenca leader and war lord. (from Culture of Honduras)
Map of the town of Trujillo from the 16th century. (from History of Honduras)
Maguen David sinagoge in San Pedro Sula, one of the places of the Honduran Jewish community. (from Culture of Honduras)
Juan Carlos Fanconi, Film Director (from Culture of Honduras)
Cathedral of Saint Michael Archangel in Tegucigalpa was built during the XVIII century. (from History of Honduras)
Tegucigalpa in 1910. (from History of Honduras)
The nacatamal a prehispanic dish widely consumed in Honduras. (from Culture of Honduras)
Coat of arms of the Miskito royal family. (from History of Honduras)
The baleada is a popular Honduran fast food dish. (from Culture of Honduras)
Sir Salvador Moncada. Honduran pharmacologyst. (from Culture of Honduras)
El Xendra is an independent film that mixes elements of suspense and science fiction. (from Culture of Honduras)
David Suazo. (from Culture of Honduras)
Flag of the Central American Federation that lasted until 1839. (from History of Honduras)
_(2495402213).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.svg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Commons
Wikibooks
Wikidata
Wikinews
Wikiquote
Wikisource
Wikiversity
Wikivoyage
Wiktionary
