Diario las Américas., 1958-03-08
Know thy
Nei9hbor
Bv RUIZ

GUATEMALA - Before the ar
rival of the SpaniardS, Guatemala
was peopled by the Mayas, VINO
had achieved the highest point IN
pref Columbian American clvlllza-
ton. About the time the MoorS
were setting out to conquer SPAN
great Magyar cities already had
been founded.
The "Old Empire" correspond
ing to the zenith of Maya civillza-
ton, covered the period from the
years 400 to 900, more or less,
and was conferred in the eastern
part of present-asy Guatemala, and
Honduras For reasons not definite
" established but believed to have
been drought, a too rapid forest
growth or soil erosion, the Mayas
headed for the Yueatan PENN
sula, beginning the period known
as the New Empire" This lasted
until the 18th. century, when an
other migration took place, this
time to Peten, in Northern Guate-
mala.
Although already in decline at
the time the Spaniards arrived, the
Mayas had developed a highly com
plicated feudal society and made
remarkable progress in the arts
and sciences. Among their inven-
tions were boats with paddles
and sails, used in coastwise trade;
a hieroglyphic system; a version
of the decimal system, based in
20, however, instead of 10, involy-
ing the use of the zero, a concept
developed Independently by the
Hindus and Mayas long before be-
ing commonly accepted elsewhere
in the world; a high degree of
astronomical knowledge, including
a calendar more exact than the
n used in Europe at the time
America was discovered, and a
complicated religious system.
The Mayas were not the only
people who lived in pre-Columb-
ian Guatemala. Among the tribes
related to them by language and
customs were the Quiche, Cakchi-
uuel. Tzutuhil, Nam, Sacatepequez
and Rabinal nations. What is Qua
temala today was settled by Span
iards coming from Mexico un-
der Pedro de Alvarado lieutenant
of Cortes, who overcame a large
force of aborigines in 1924. On July
25 of that year, they founded the
Cortes, who overcame a large force
of aborigineS in 1924. On July Is
of that year, they founded the
first colonial capital later called
Guatemala, in the middle of a corn
field at Iximche, near the former
capital of the Cakchiquels. They
called it Santiago, July rs being
that SAINTS day.
In l541 a series of earthquakes
destroyed this first capital, and a
new city was founded by a few
survivors of the old, in the near
by Panchoy Valley, at a point
known today as Antigua. From this
city the entire Guatemalan terri
tory was ruled Tor over 200 years.
Originally Guatemala contained
only the areas conquered by Alva-
RADIO, or those he intended to con-
quer. It did not at first include
the southern part of Central
America, invaded from the south
east by other groups of Spaniards.
On May Is, 1854 a new Audien-
cha with political and judicial pow
ers was set up for Central Ameri-
ca, and became the Captaincy-Gen-
eral of Guatemala, which remain
ed for the entire colonial period,
except for a short time and some
changes in territory. At the begin
ming it included Tabasco in the
northwest and Yucatan in the
northeast. as, well as Guatemala,
Ell Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua,
Costa RIGA and Panam. The Capt
aincy. General Of Guatemala was
part of the viceroyalty of Mexico,
but its Captain General reported
directly to the Spanish Crown. Be.
tween 1855 and 1870 the portion
from FL Salvador and Guatemala
northward, was attached to the Au.
diencia of Mexico.
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