Andrew Clark
Mrs.Klug
Culinary 1
26 January 2017
Guatemala
Guatemala is a Scenic landscape from smoldering volcanoes and swirling mists to where the hues of nature complement the rainbow colors of common dress.
Guatemala happens to be the third largest country in Central America and is about the same size as ohio. There are three main geographic regions: highlands, lowlands, and a coastal plain. Volcanic uplands form the southern half of the highlands that join the coastal plain. Within the coastal plain and volcanic uplands, about 60% of the country's population lives. Most of the left over 40% live north of the uplands. The country has a greater population density than any other country in Latin America.
Catholicism
…show more content…
The first and highest is Mestizos, they make up 41%. Mestizos are people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. They are concentrated in the urban areas of the country. The next is Amerindians, they make up 38.9%. They are a mix of American and Indian. The third is whites, they make up 18.5%. Whites there are more for tourism. There is only 1% of blacks and 0.6% of …show more content…
It is the biggest city in Guatemala, and the greatest populated in Central America. It is found in the southern central part of the country, bundled in the mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita. (Hermitage Valley). These are a few of the locals favorite restaurants: Kacao, Donde Mikel, and Restaurante Hacienda Real. The most visited tourist spots are Tikal- an Ancient Mayan city with pyramid ruins, and Lake Atitlan where there are lakes, volcanoes, yoga, kayaking and markets.
Guatemala is very wealthy in civilization. It has 21 mayan ethnicities mixed with Latin and European ethnicities. Mayan inspiration is deep and profound. Espanol is the national language and is used by most of the local population. Although in the mountains it is common to find indigenous people speaking their ancient Mayan dialect. The mountains contain the bulk of the 21 Mayan dialects spoken with many natives still wearing their traditional colorful
The Popol Vuh is a collection of historical mythos of the K’iche’ Maya, a group that still lives in the Guatemalan highlands. Popol Vuh translates as either, “Book of Council” or in proper K’iche’ “Book of Events” or “Book of the People”, and tells the creation mythos of the K’iche’ peoples, an epic tale of Hero Twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, along with a series of genealogies.
From the time of its colonization at the hands of Spanish Conquistadors in the early 1500’s, Guatemala has suffered under the oppression of dictator after dictator. These dictators, who ruled only with the support of the military and only in their own interests, created a form of serfdom; by 1944, two percent of the people owned 70 percent of the usable land.
The Central American country of Guatemala fought a bloody civil war for over 36 years. The internal conflict began in November of 1960 and did not end until December of 1996. The key players that fought where the Guatemalan government and the ethnic Mayan indigenous people that where extremely leftist compared to the Guatemalan government. The indigenous persons where joined by other non-government forces known as the Ladino peasantry and other rural poor. This civil conflict would escalate to a bloody series of events that inevitably would see the Guatemalan government regime held responsible for acts of genocide and other human rights violations.
Medina, Laurie Kroshus. 2003 ‘Commoditizing Culture – Tourism and Maya Identity’. Michigan State University, USA. pp 353-368
The Mayan Genocide was a result of a civil war concerning communism and democracy between corrupt leaders and the people of Guatemala. The Guatemalan army carried out the genocide under the self-proclaimed name “killing machines”. According to the article Genocide in Guatemala “the army destroyed 626 villages, killed or “disappeared” more than 200,000 people and displaced an additional 1.5 million, while more than 150,000 were driven to seek refuge in Mexico”. The army murdered and tortured without regard to age or gender, men, women, and children all alike. In an attempt to end the conflict Peace Accords were signed, in spite of the fact that there was little change. Directly following the Mayan genocides, Guatemala faced physical and emotional
Guatemala is located in Central America and is south of Mexico. It is home to volcanos and Mayan ruins. Guatemala has strong Mayan and Spanish influence. The Spanish left their mark with their own beliefs and traditions. The Mayan people are a big part of Guatemala and therefore also reflect Guatemalan culture. More than half of the Guatemalan population have indigenous roots. There are many traditions and remedies that are practiced by the people of Guatemala. This paper will discuss Guatemalan customs and beliefs on health and medicine.
I always live as a Guatemalan for the last 15 years, it was hard when I had to move from my country to another that was very different than mine and find out that in this new country is a different languages and different cultures. Maybe for the first time that I was walking to the school, I feel like I was in Guatemala people with the same skin color as me, but when I heard them talked I heard a new word, different accents and I realized that everything was chance.
The Mayan Civilization consisted of 16 major communities ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 people in each. Mayan territory spanned from Southern Mexico to Northwestern Honduras but was mostly concentrated within the Yucatan Peninsula ("Maya (people)"). Through the ages of the Mayan Civilization, the migration of the Mayan people went from Southern Central Mexico to the Southeast side of the Yucatan peninsula and some parts of Northern Belize and Guatemala.
Since the beginning of discovery, the Maya have always been known as “an indigenous people from Mexico and Central America” in 1800 B.C. to about 800 A.D. (“The Maya Civilization,” 1/1). One of the most dominant societies of Mesoamerica, the Maya geographically centralized in one “block”: the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala, Belize, Tabasco and Chiapas (Mexico), and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador (“Maya,” 1/1). Their constant location, over a period of almost 3000 years, shows that the Maya stayed safe from invasion by other peoples. The Maya Empire peaked at 600-800 A.D. and suffered a decline when the Spanish conquistadors rose.
In the Central America, most notably the Yucatan Peninsula, are the Maya, a group of people whose polytheistic religion and advanced civilization once flourished (Houston, 43). The Maya reached their peak during the Classic Period from around CE 250 to the ninth century CE when the civilization fell and dispersed (Sharer, 1). Although much has been lost, the gods and goddesses and the religious practices of the Classic Maya give insight into their lives and reveal what was important to this society.
When I was a toddler, I had blonde hair, blue eyes and white skin, and still presently do. My parents are Guatemalan, however they fit the stereotype of a Guatemalan, small, a bit chunky, and tan. My siblings also carry the same genes as my parents, but yet I stand out like the moon in a night sky. But just like the moon, the public looks at me different. Growing up in a hispanic community and having a Latino family I gained numerous titles for my abnormality. “Canche” is the George Clooney of my nicknames, it means white boy.
5,744,113 people composed predominantly of Mestizos. Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America to mean a person of combined European and Amerindian descent. Other include 12% white, 1% Indigenous.
Upon arrival of the Spaniards the Mayan civilization was in full decline. Most of the Mayans lived in the Yucatan Peninsula and large cities had been abandoned centuries ago. There were few cities such as the Mayans and most of its people lived in small villages. During the colony and the Independent Mexico the Mayans kept a great diversity of languages, dialects, culture mixed with Spanish traditions and religion resulting in a rich culture that persists to this day.
The Maya was a very advanced civilization that had many important aspects to their culture. They dominated Central America for a very long period. The time of this great civilization is split into three main periods: Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic. The Maya’s greatest and most cultural achievements came from the Classic period, but the fall of this period is one of the greatest mysteries in all of history. The Mayans abandoned many primary city-states and moved for an unknown reason. Nobody is sure why this happened, but it is sure that the Maya was one of the greatest civilizations of their time. Their culture was based on their class structure, warfare, religious practices, family life, and agriculture. These were important because they made up the Maya’s unique culture.
The Maya civilization is a very important culture that has left a great impact on our world today. They are known for their written language, art, mathematical system and astronomical system. The Maya territory includes Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and southern Mexico. In these areas the Maya thrived in their religious practices, politics, and their use of the territory.