Central America

Introduction & Top Questions
Geography and climate
Plants and animals
Demographics of Central America
Economy and development
Pre-Columbian Central America
- Emergence of the Maya
- Decline of the Maya
The Spanish conquest
- Appointment of Pedrarias
- Further conquest of the Indigenous
The Habsburg period (1524–1700)
- Unification of the isthmus
- Rise of the Creole elite
- Colonial economy and society
The Bourbon century (1701–1808)
Independence (1808–23)
The United Provinces (1823–40)
- The first election
- Morazán’s presidency
Formation of the republics (c. 1840–c. 1870)
The liberal period (c. 1870–c. 1945)
Modern Central America (c. 1945 to the present)

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Map of Central America showing country borders, capital cities, major lakes, and the Panama Canal, with shaded relief indicating elevation changes across the region.

Volcanic landscape in Central America: Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Coastal ecosystems in Central America: Mangroves, Roatán, Honduras

Plant and animal life in Central America

Learn how deforestation in Central American countries like Belize gives way to erosion and poverty

Iglesia La Merced (The Merced Church) in Granada, Nicaragua

Indigenous populations in Central America

Temple II, also known as the Temple of the Masks, rises in stepped stone tiers with a central staircase at the Great Plaza in Tikal, Guatemala, surrounded by trees and grass.

At a Glance

Central America summary

Quizzes

Quick Quiz: Central American Geography

Related Questions

How did civil wars disrupt Central American trade during the 1980s?
How did maquiladoras change Central American manufacturing?
How has slash-and-burn farming affected Central American forests?
How long is the Central American isthmus?
How narrow is Central America at its narrowest point?
Is Central America part of North America or South America?
What caused political crises in Central America during the mid- and late 20th century?
What economic problems affected Central America during the 1980s?
What is the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement?
What religious changes occurred in Central America after the late 20th century?
What role did Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sánchez play in the 1987 Central American peace plan?
When did the Spanish conquest of Central America begin?
When was the Central American Common Market established?
When was the Organization of Central American States formed?
Which Central American countries participate in CAFTA-DR?
Which Central American countries use the U.S. dollar as their official currency?
Which Central American country experienced a successful leftist revolution?
Which Indigenous languages are spoken in Central America?
Which Indigenous peoples lived along the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras?
Which bodies of water border Central America?
Which countries belonged to the Organization of Central American States?
Which countries make up Central America?
Which countries signed the agreement that created the Central American Common Market?
Which groups of people have African ancestry in Central America?
Which parts of Central America are mountainous?
Which types of forests grow in Central America?
Why are Central American highlands cooler than coastal lowlands?
Why are remittances important to the economies of El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras?
Why are there so many volcanoes in Central America?
Why did coffee and bananas become important to Central American economies?
Why did poverty and gang violence lead people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to migrate north?
Why did some peasant, labor, and Indigenous groups oppose CAFTA-DR?
Why do earthquakes occur frequently in Central America?
Why does the Caribbean side of Central America receive more rain than the Pacific side?
Why is Central America considered an isthmus?
Is Central America a continent?
When was Central America colonized?
Why do Central Americans speak Spanish?
Where is Quetzaltenango located, and why is the city considered important?
What significant volcanic features are near Quetzaltenango?
What role did Quetzaltenango play in the 19th century?
What educational opportunities does Quetzaltenango offer?
What is the Panama Canal?
Why is the Panama Canal important?
How was the Panama Canal made?

Geography & Travel Geographic Regions

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External Websites

Official Tourism Site of Central America
Social Sci LibreTexts - Central America

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Central America - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Central America - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Central America

Written by

David Bushnell

Emeritus Professor of History, University of Florida, Gainesville. Author of The Emergence of Latin America in the Nineteenth Century; The Making of Modern Colombia: A Nation in Spite of Itself; Simón...

David BushnellAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 10, 2026 •History

Central America, geographic region of the Americas, comprising Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize. Some geologists and physical geographers extend the northern boundary to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico. This article covers the history of the area from prehistoric and pre-Columbian times to the present. Additional information on the region’s physical and human geography can be found in articles on the individual countries of the region (see Belize; Guatemala; El...

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