Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Its obviously an isthmus composed of seven independent nations, sandwiched between much larger nations that are not part of the narrow isthmus.
However, beyond that, is there really anything that really unites the seven nations making it a distinct region?
Panama was part of Columbia until the 20th century when the canal was in its early planning stages.
Oaxaca and the Yucatan in Mexico were part of the Mayan cultural region, as is Guatemala, both having a diverse group of indigenous of Mayan, and closely similar cultural groups. Both also have a troubled past and present.
Belize and Guyana probably have more in common with each other than their neighbors being historically British colonies, having a high % people of African descent, next to no Spanish influence, and a sparsely settled rainforest hinterland.
Costa Rica has little in common with its neighbors to the north due to policies that have ensure a much higher quality of life, and along with Ecuador in south America are/were leaders in ecotourism.
Overall northern South American countries have more in common with Central American countries it seems than it does with the Southern cone.
The size of the countries?
Well, fortunately CR, Panamá and Belize escaped from the sad reality of Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador, that are all small, violent and unstable contries. But besides the size, they seem to have ethnic similarities. Hope more countries overcomes its serious troubles.
I would argue that Belize has much more Spanish influence than it may appear at first, mostly due to heavy immigration from neighboring countries. If I'm not mistaken, most people in Belize actually speak Spanish, even though Belize's upper class (and the people that control the place) are English-speakers and refuse to recognize Spanish as an official language. The influx of illegal immigrants from neighboring countries has changed the racial composition there, with mestizos now outnumbering the creoles (English-speaking black and mulatto Belizeans).
Belize's similarity with Guyana is only true if we limit the comparison to the British-influenced Belizeans. Other than that, Guyana would have to be flooded with Venezuelans to begin resembling modern Belize. With the border disputes they have with Venezuela and the unpredictable nature of the current regime in Caracas, they may impulse thousands of their people to illegally move into Guyana. That would give Venezuela extra political muscle to annex more than half of Guyana at a certain point in the future.
Its obviously an isthmus composed of seven independent nations, sandwiched between much larger nations that are not part of the narrow isthmus.
However, beyond that, is there really anything that really unites the seven nations making it a distinct region?
Belize and Panama are different. Costa Rica is also different from the rest of Central America but they were once part of Central America when it was one country and they do share some cultural similarities with their neighbors to the North.
Guatemala is also different from its neighbors because of its large Indigenous Mayan population. The rest of Central America is largely mestizo. There are a few Indigenous communities in Central America, but very little indigenous culture has survived in Central America outside of Guatemala and Belize. Guatemala is heavily influenced by its neighbor to the North.
The most similar of central American countries are El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Their flags are practically the same, their foods are very similar, their accents are very similar. The people overall are very similar.
Quote:
Oaxaca and the Yucatan in Mexico were part of the Mayan cultural region, as is Guatemala, both having a diverse group of indigenous of Mayan, and closely similar cultural groups. Both also have a troubled past and present.
Oaxaca is not part of the Mayan cultural region.
Quote:
Belize and Guyana probably have more in common with each other than their neighbors being historically British colonies, having a high % people of African descent, next to no Spanish influence, and a sparsely settled rainforest hinterland.
Maybe, but there have always been a significant number of Mayans and Spanish speaking mestizos in Belize, and the rest of the Caribbean coast of Central America is really not too different from Belize. There is a lot of Garifunas and other black communties along the coast, even English speaking communties. I wouldn't say there is next to no Spanish influence, Belize was a Spanish colony, just look at the map half the names of places are Spanish.
Nicaraguans have the extra advantage of not being as violent as the trio to its north. Its amazing that this country has been able to keep its peaceful nature despite sharing a long and porous border with Honduras, a country with a homicide rate so bad that Iraqis are actually safer despite the war and ISIS.
Nicaragua is also the poorest Spanish-speaking country in the world and in America only Haiti is poorer (the gap between Nicaragua and Haiti is still huge). That makes their relative peacefulness even more remarkable.
Belize and Panama are different. Costa Rica is also different from the rest of Central America but they were once part of Central America when it was one country and they do share some cultural similarities with their neighbors to the North.
Guatemala is also different from its neighbors because of its large Indigenous Mayan population. The rest of Central America is largely mestizo. There are a few Indigenous communities in Central America, but very little indigenous culture has survived in Central America outside of Guatemala and Belize. Guatemala is heavily influenced by its neighbor to the North.
The most similar of central American countries are El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Their flags are practically the same, their foods are very similar, their accents are very similar. The people overall are very similar.
Oaxaca is not part of the Mayan cultural region.
Maybe, but there have always been a significant number of Mayans and Spanish speaking mestizos in Belize, and the rest of the Caribbean coast of Central America is really not too different from Belize. There is a lot of Garifunas and other black communties along the coast, even English speaking communties. I wouldn't say there is next to no Spanish influence, Belize was a Spanish colony, just look at the map half the names of places are Spanish.
Thanks for the info.
I guess the Belizean Americans I have met were as Black as an average person from Jamaica or Haiti.
I knew Oaxaca is not Mayan, I guess I met more like "Middle American indigenous".
There have been some attempts at more integration. Specially among the Northern countries of Central America, but the unity of central America is an elusive dream. Guatemala and El Salvador were making progress in opening up/integrating their borders, but things have changed over the past couple of years. El Salvador and Nicaragua are in love with Venezuela and Maduro, and Guatemala and Honduras are stuggling to clean up the corruption in their governments, though Guatemala seems to be doing a bit better. The Guatemalan president recently resgned over corruption charges and is facing trial. Presidential elections are actually being held right now.
Belize and Panama are different. Costa Rica is also different from the rest of Central America but they were once part of Central America when it was one country and they do share some cultural similarities with their neighbors to the North.
Guatemala is also different from its neighbors because of its large Indigenous Mayan population. The rest of Central America is largely mestizo. There are a few Indigenous communities in Central America, but very little indigenous culture has survived in Central America outside of Guatemala and Belize. Guatemala is heavily influenced by its neighbor to the North.
The most similar of central American countries are El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Their flags are practically the same, their foods are very similar, their accents are very similar. The people overall are very similar.
Oaxaca is not part of the Mayan cultural region.
Maybe, but there have always been a significant number of Mayans and Spanish speaking mestizos in Belize, and the rest of the Caribbean coast of Central America is really not too different from Belize. There is a lot of Garifunas and other black communties along the coast, even English speaking communties. I wouldn't say there is next to no Spanish influence, Belize was a Spanish colony, just look at the map half the names of places are Spanish.
Way too different. Panama was never part of Central America, nor did it share its indigenous roots.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
