This book provides a political and cultural history of Honduras, covering the era of the Mayan and Lenca civilizations to today's current political strife. Honduras has a rich heritage rooted in its cultural origins, including Mayan prehistory, Spanish conquest and rule, and Ch'orti' and Lencan indigenous ancestry. Unfortunately, Honduras is also one of the poorest nations in the world, with roughly half of its population living below the poverty line. Honduras has suffered both political trauma and natural disasters throughout its history. In 1969, Honduras' political tensions with El Salvador during a soccer series preliminary to the World Cup led to the four-day-long "Football War." In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused billions of dollars of damage to Honduras; ten years later, half of the country's roadways were ruined, often beyond repair, by substantial flooding. Most recently, many countries have frowned upon the Honduran government's shift of power from the president to the head of Congress. The History of Honduras provides a comprehensive history of the small Latin American country, detailing Honduras's geography and current political systems with emphasis on its politics and cultural life. Recent coups and political controversy make Honduras an important Central American nation for today's students to study and understand. -- Publisher description.