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South American / Mesoamerican Civilisations History Timeline & Facts

Concise Guatemalan Facts, History & Timeline
The indigenous Guatemalan inhabitants were the Mayans
1523 - Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado led a Spanish expedition from Mexico and invaded Guatemala
Pedro de Alvarado established Spanish rule
1540 - Indigenous Guatemalan population crushed and Guatemala becomes a Spanish colony under the control of the Captaincy General of Guatemala
1776 Spain encompassed all of its territories in south-east South America to create one large colony called the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata
1810 - Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
1821 - Guatemala gains independence from Spain
1821 Guatemala became a part of the Mexican empire
1823 Guatemala broke away from Mexico
1823 The United Provinces of Central America was formed of the five Central American states under General Manuel Jose Arce
1823 - Guatemala becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which also includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua
1840 - Guatemala becomes fully independent following the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America
1840 - Rafael Carrerea takes control as the first of many Guatemalan liberal dictators up to 1945
1945 A Guatemalan constitution was adopted which was subsequently amended on several occasions