The land of Honduras was inhabited by Native American tribes. From 250AD to 900AD was the peak of the Mayan civilization. There were the most advanced and powerful of the indigenous peoples although their power had diminished by the time the Europeans arrived. Later the Lenca peoples would try to mount an organized resistance against the Spanish conquerors, but would eventually fail.
In 1502 Christopher Columbus first sighted Honduras and claimed the land for Spain. Later explorers would arrive and eventually Hernan Cortes would establish a government in the city of Trujillo.
In 1821 Honduras became an independent country. For a short time it was part of the Mexican Empire and then a part of the United Provinces of Central America before again becoming its own independent nation.
In 1998 Hurricane Mitch did terrible damage to the country. Over 5000 people died in the disaster and Honduras was devastated.
