ABSTRACT
Spanish conquest profoundly affected the nature of Central America's present-day societies. Spain conquered the territories that are today Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala in the two decades following the first Spanish penetration in 1522. In the rest of Central America, however, the Spaniards imposed their dominion despite active and passive resistance by the native people. Although this period meant annihilation for many, some original populations survived. When the Spaniards came they encountered millions of indigenous people in what are today the four northernmost countries of Central America. In contrast, in the rest of Central America, and externally oriented, elite controlled, dependent pattern of economic activity became more entrenched. The Spanish first exploited the region's human and material resources to produce cacao, silver, gold, timber, and cattle products for export. In the economic arena, Central America has specialized in exporting agricultural commodities since 1838. After 1850 coffee gradually became a major export throughout the region.
