Settlement and History of Costa Rica
The first explorer to encounter Costa Rica was “the Great Navigator himself, Christopher Columbus” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.) on September 18, 1502, during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. The native Carib Indians who wore gold bands both on their noses and their ears were very welcoming, and shared this gold with the explorers, and later inspired Spaniard Gil Gonzalez Davila to name the country Costa Rica, or Rich Coast. “Evidence of human occupation in the region dates back 10,000 years…Archaeologists have found perfectly spherical granite bolas near the west coast, as well as a large ancient city east of San Jose with aqueducts as far back as 1,000 years.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
Costa Rica had about 20 tribes that were relatively small, and organized into chiefdoms with a hirearchial society. (Lonely Planet, 2014) “With a permanent leader, a shaman, warriors, toilers, and slaves” (Lonely Planet, 2014) The Central Valley was home to the Huetar Indians (although, they did roam and could be found throughout the country, they were mostly settled here), and “contains the only major archaeological site to be uncovered” (Lonely Planet, 2014). The East coast had the Carib Indians, while the northwest were connected to the great Meso-American cultures. The three chiefdoms that were found in the south west contributed the influence of Andean Indian cultures were the Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis tribes. (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.) “Only one percent of Costa Rica’s 3 million people are of indigenous heritage.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
It was initially a tough and unpopular place for settlers, as there were very few valuable or easily exploited resources. At the time, most of the explorers were more interested in Mexico and Peru, where there was extreme amounts of gold and silver being discovered. “The first successful establishment of a colonial city was not until 1562 when Juan Vasquez de Coronado founded Cortago.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
“In the 19th century, the riches that Costa Rica had long promised were uncovered, when it was realized that the soil and the climate of the Central Valley highlands were ideal for coffee cultivation. Costa Rica led Central America in introducing the caffeinated red bean, which remade the impoverished country into the wealthiest in the region.” (Lonely Planet, 2014)
References
Geographia. (n.d.). Costa Rica - History & Culture. Retrieved from http://www.geographia.com/costa-rica/history.htm
Pearson Education. (2014). Costa Rica: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities | Infoplease.com. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/country/costa-rica.html
Seattle Times. (n.d.). Coffee Farms [Graph]. Retrieved from http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2011/03/06/2014412806.gif
Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center. (n.d.). Settlement Points Costa Rica[Map]. Retrieved from http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/downloads/maps/grump-v1/grump-v1-settlement-points/cripoints.jpg
OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Costa_Rica
Why Wikipedia? Because it's practically universal, and easily accessible. Plus, it is always being updated for proper information. A good way to "scratch the surface" and begin a first look into any topic of interest, before digging to deep.
http://www.centralamerica.com/cr/moon/mohistory.htm
Why? Because it is very, very in depth. Almost everything and anything about the exact discovery, settlement, and history of Costa Rica. A little too dense for my taste, but a good reference for checking facts and "skimming" over to also get a feel for the history.
The first explorer to encounter Costa Rica was “the Great Navigator himself, Christopher Columbus” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.) on September 18, 1502, during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. The native Carib Indians who wore gold bands both on their noses and their ears were very welcoming, and shared this gold with the explorers, and later inspired Spaniard Gil Gonzalez Davila to name the country Costa Rica, or Rich Coast. “Evidence of human occupation in the region dates back 10,000 years…Archaeologists have found perfectly spherical granite bolas near the west coast, as well as a large ancient city east of San Jose with aqueducts as far back as 1,000 years.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
Costa Rica had about 20 tribes that were relatively small, and organized into chiefdoms with a hirearchial society. (Lonely Planet, 2014) “With a permanent leader, a shaman, warriors, toilers, and slaves” (Lonely Planet, 2014) The Central Valley was home to the Huetar Indians (although, they did roam and could be found throughout the country, they were mostly settled here), and “contains the only major archaeological site to be uncovered” (Lonely Planet, 2014). The East coast had the Carib Indians, while the northwest were connected to the great Meso-American cultures. The three chiefdoms that were found in the south west contributed the influence of Andean Indian cultures were the Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis tribes. (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.) “Only one percent of Costa Rica’s 3 million people are of indigenous heritage.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
It was initially a tough and unpopular place for settlers, as there were very few valuable or easily exploited resources. At the time, most of the explorers were more interested in Mexico and Peru, where there was extreme amounts of gold and silver being discovered. “The first successful establishment of a colonial city was not until 1562 when Juan Vasquez de Coronado founded Cortago.” (Geographia, Costa Rica: History and Culture.)
“In the 19th century, the riches that Costa Rica had long promised were uncovered, when it was realized that the soil and the climate of the Central Valley highlands were ideal for coffee cultivation. Costa Rica led Central America in introducing the caffeinated red bean, which remade the impoverished country into the wealthiest in the region.” (Lonely Planet, 2014)
References
Geographia. (n.d.). Costa Rica - History & Culture. Retrieved from http://www.geographia.com/costa-rica/history.htm
Pearson Education. (2014). Costa Rica: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities | Infoplease.com. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/country/costa-rica.html
Seattle Times. (n.d.). Coffee Farms [Graph]. Retrieved from http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2011/03/06/2014412806.gif
Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center. (n.d.). Settlement Points Costa Rica[Map]. Retrieved from http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/downloads/maps/grump-v1/grump-v1-settlement-points/cripoints.jpg
OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Costa_Rica
Why Wikipedia? Because it's practically universal, and easily accessible. Plus, it is always being updated for proper information. A good way to "scratch the surface" and begin a first look into any topic of interest, before digging to deep.
http://www.centralamerica.com/cr/moon/mohistory.htm
Why? Because it is very, very in depth. Almost everything and anything about the exact discovery, settlement, and history of Costa Rica. A little too dense for my taste, but a good reference for checking facts and "skimming" over to also get a feel for the history.
*All images linked to website for credit*