Costa Rica 203 Years of Independent Living.

This publication is not only intended to make our history known, but also to help interpret part of the great historical process that led to the process of the Independence of Central America and therefore of Costa Rica, which went from being a province of Guatemala, to become a free, sovereign and independent country, a fact that can be understood from the knowledge of the complex and particular social, economic and political movement of the nineteenth century.

Costa Rica 203 Years of Independent Living
Costa Rica 203 Years of Independent Living
Independence centennial celebration in front of the National Theater, San José, Costa Rica. September 15, 1921.
Photo: Manuel Gómez Miralles

Costa Rica 203 Years of Independent Living

From colony to freedom: a history of independence

Approximately 12,000 years ago, the first inhabitants arrived in what we know today as Costa Rica. In 1502, Christopher Columbus discovered the territory, which led to the first settlements. With the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, social stratification was introduced and the indigenous populations were employed as labor for agricultural development. During this period, small villages were built and the first hermitages were established, with the clergy also influencing the religious orientation of a large part of the population. The indigenous communities resisted the European advance, facing racist and discriminatory practices. Significant social struggles, commercial exchanges and the development of cultural identity, among other aspects, also took place.

Although there are other texts that address much of what we include in this research, we wanted to propose a simple, precise and plain language to each page and photograph, in order to motivate their reading, understanding and therefore to the education of our history, so that we never forget who we are, where we came from and the great struggles that have occurred over time in order to become a country without an army, free, democratic and independent.

This article is the first chapter in a series dedicated to exploring the rich and complex history of Costa Rica’s independence. Throughout the following texts, we will delve into the crucial events and key figures that shaped our nation from its colonial roots to its consolidation as a free and sovereign country. Through a detailed and accessible analysis, to offer a more complete and nuanced view of the historical process that has brought us to the present, underlining the importance of understanding and valuing our past to fully appreciate the state of independence we celebrate today. Join us on this journey through the history and legacy of our homeland.