The Maya are thought to have been in Belize and the Yucat¡¡¡¡¨¬¬¢n region since the second millennium BC; however, much of Belize's original Maya population was wiped out by disease and conflicts between tribes and with Europeans.
Three Maya groups now inhabit the country: The Yucatec (who came from Yucat¡¡¡¡¨¬¬¢n, Mexico to escape the Caste War of the 1840's), the Mopan (indigenous to Belize but were forced out by the British; they returned from Guatemala to evade slavery in the 19th century), and Kekchi (also fled from slavery in Guatemala in the 19th century).The latter groups are chiefly found in the Toledo District.
White, initially Spanish conquistadors explored and declared the land a Spanish colony but chose not to settle due to the lack of resources such as gold. Later
English and Scottish settlers and pirates known as the "Baymen" entered the area in the 16th and 17th century respectively and established a logwood trade colony.
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