History of Costa Rica

The origin of human colonization of Costa Rica dates back to the Pleistocene glaciations, probably when the frozen Bering Strait and began the first migration from the Eurasian continent. The first inhabitants of Costa Rica were dedicated to hunting and fishing and gathering fruits, but soon they went on to develop two types of subsistence agriculture: the first based on the cultivation of root crops (cassava) and one that prevailed throughout the Central American Area, based on corn and beans. With this type of crop flourished in the American Continent the two great civilizations of the Mayas and the Aztecs (Mexico, Guatemala) and that of the Incas (Peru).

The Discovering of Costa Rica

Costa Rica was discovered by Columbus in 1502 (Castilla del Oro), during his fourth voyage, but the first penetration into the interior was not until 1563 when Juan Vasquez de Coronado conquered the country and founded the City of Cartago, Costa Rica's capital until 1823, while back in 1519 - 1920 G. de Espinosa and Juan Ponce de León had explored the Pacific coast.

Spanish Colony

In 1540 Costa Rica was defined in its territorial Constitution, which coincided with the Government of Cartago, which in turn was part of the General Captaincy of Guatemala. Its coasts were infested by foreign pirates, while the entire area, except Costa Rica was invaded by the filibuster of the United States of America, William Walker

The Independency of Costa Rica

At the same time of the Independence process of Mexico the Central American countries declared their own independence on September 15, 1821. The Central American liberals, gathered in the Constituent Assembly in Guatemala City on June 5, 1823, did not accept the union with Mexico, so that on the following July 1st was created the Federation of United Provinces of Central America, which was dissolved in 1839. Then the process followed a war that only ended in until 1842.

Contemporary History

In 1986 Oscar Arias Sanchez was elected President of Costa Rica, who sets up a Central American peace plan, for what he will receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Oscar Arias was re-elected president 20 years after his first term in the elections held on February 5, 2006.

(source: Wikipedia. link: Costa Rica ,license: Creative Commons)