In the Pre-Columbian era, much of eastern Honduras was inhabited by Mesoamerican peoples – the most notable being the Maya – while the Lenca tribe dominated the west.

In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed on Honduran soil and claimed it for Spain. The Spanish conquest began a few years later, led by Hernán Cortés and his men. Though the Lenca and other Indigenous groups resisted, they were eventually overpowered. Despite that, many still exist today.

Like many countries in the region, Honduras gained independence from Spain in 1821. It was briefly annexed to the Mexican Empire, then became part of the United Provinces of Central America, before becoming an independent republic in 1838. Freedom from Spain didn’t bring stability – the country saw repeated coups, civil wars, and rebellions throughout the 19th century. It was during this time that Honduras earned the nickname Banana Republic, as U.S. companies were granted large tracts of land to cultivate bananas in exchange for helping develop infrastructure on the northern coast.

The 20th century brought more turmoil. The country suffered economic hardship during both World Wars and fought a brief conflict known as the Football War (or Soccer War) with El Salvador in 1969, sparked by border tensions during World Cup qualifiers. Afterwards, Honduras was ruled by a military government for several years, followed by a civilian government led by the Liberal Party. Despite promises of reform, progress was slow due to regional disputes, internal strife, and natural disasters. Recovery has been gradual. However, political instability remains a major issue – a military coup took place as recently as 2009. Today, poverty and violent crime continue to plague much of the country.