Guatemala

Where the name comes from

Guatemala comes from Nahuatl Cuauhtēmallān, “place of many trees”, which matches the meaning of the K’iche’ name K’ii’chee’.

First people

Maya civilizations flourished here, building cities such as Tikal.^1,2

Known for

Guatemala’s Maya heritage lives on in its communities: the census recognizes 22 Maya language communities alongside Xinka and Garífuna identities.³

Outside contact

The Spanish conquest began in 1524.¹

The modern country

Independence from Spain in 1821 led to a Central American federation in 1823 and Guatemala’s own republic in 1847.¹