Worksheet Honduras
Nombre: _____________________________________________ Clase: ________
Honduras was inhabited by indigenous tribes of a great linguistic and cultural
diversity. The most powerful and advanced of these were the Mayans, who also
populated Yucatán, Belize, and the northeast of Guatemala and built their sacred city
and ceremonial metropolis in Copán, in the western part of Honduras.
After the collapse of Mayan culture, different groups slowly settled in various parts of
the Honduran territory. Their languages reveal a relationship with the Toltecs and
Aztecs of Mexico, the Chibchas of Colombia, and even tribes from the southwestern
United States.
Descendants of these peoples and of the Mayas were the aborigines, who would later
oppose the Spanish conquest and produce the legendary figures of Tecún Uman,
Lempira, Atlacatl, Diriagúacutan, Nicarao and Urraca, leaders for autonomy among
the native populations of Central America.
By October 1537, the Lenca chief, Lempira, a warrior of great renown, had managed
to unify more than 200 Indian tribes that had been ancient rivals in order to offer an
organized resistance against further penetration by the Spanish conquerors. In the
village of Etempica he announced his plans to expel the Spaniards and gave
instructions to all his allies for a general uprising when he gave the signal. On top of
the great rock of Cerquín, an impenetrable fortress, he gathered all the neighboring
tribes as well as abundant supplies and made trenches and fortifications. He finally
gave the signal to attack by killing three unsuspecting Spaniards, who happened to
be in the region.
Governor Montejo ordered Captain Alonso de Cáceres to attack the stronghold, but it
was impossible to take. Montejo then gathered a large number of Indians from
Guatemala and Mexico as auxiliary forces, mobilized nearly all the Spanish troops at
his disposition, and ordered them to storm the rock. Yet Cerquín remained invincible.
At the same time, Lempira ordered a general insurrection: Comayagua was set on
fire, and the Spanish inhabitants had to flee to Gracias. Gracias was threatened by
the surrounding tribes; San Pedro de Puerto Caballos and Trujillowere placed under
siege and the Spaniards were hard pressed to maintain their ground.
While Montejo sought help desperately from Santiago de los Caballeros in
Guatemala, San Salvador, and San Miguel and even from Spain, Alonso de Cáceres
resorted to treason to get rid of Lempira. He invited the chief to a peace conference;
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and when Lempira reaffirmed his desire to continue the fight, a hidden marksman
shot him in the forehead. Lempira fell from the high cliffs; and with his death, his
30,000 warriors either fled or surrendered.
Montejo regained the Valley of Comayagua, established Comayagua city in another
location, and defeated the natives in Tenampúa, Guaxeregui, and Ojuera. The
conquest of Honduras was consummated and later consolidated by the founding of
new settlements.
Today the lempira is the currency of Honduras.
A. After reading the information above, answer these true or false statements:
1. The Aztecs populated Honduras. ________________________
2. After the collapse of the Mayan culture, only one language was spoken in
Honduras. ___________________________
3. Uman opposed Spanish rule in Honduras. ____________________
4. Lempira unified 300 Indian tribes against the Spaniards. ________________
5. Governor Montejo was able to conquer Cerquín. ____________________
6. Alonso de Cáceres invited Lempira to a peace conference. _______________
7. Montejo regained Honduras. _____________________________
8. The currency of Honduras is the peso. __________________________
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B. Draw a picture or series of pictures to show what Lempira did. If you don’t want
to draw, write a paragraph explaining who he was and what he did. Include at the
end how he is honored to this day in Honduras.
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C. The United States State Department cautions travelers:
The terrain includes mountainous areas, coastal beaches, and jungle lowlands.
Facilities that would normally be used by tourists, including hotels and restaurants,
are generally adequate in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, in San Pedro Sula, Tela, La
Ceiba, the Bay Islands, and near the Copan ruins. Large sections of the country,
however, lack basic public services or even a governmental presence.
Crime is endemic in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors
and residents alike. U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes,
including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes. Widespread
poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug cartel
activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate. There were 6,236
homicides in Honduras in 2009, a rate of 77 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is one of
the highest murder rates in the world.
Since 1995, 98 U.S. citizens have been reported murdered in Honduras; however,
only twenty-eight cases have been resolved. As of July 2011, four U.S. citizens have
been reported murdered in Honduras in 2011; nine in 2010; 18 in 2009; seven in
2008; four in 2007; eight in 2006; and nine in 2005.
1. Would you travel to Honduras? Why or why not? __________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Do you think Cuyahoga Falls is a safer place to visit? Why or why not? ________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you think people would want to travel to Honduras? (Look at the map on
page 2 for ideas)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Why is a government presence important when traveling or living somewhere? Or
is it important?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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D. Look at the map on page 2 and answer the following questions:
1. What is the ocean located on the north side of Honduras? ___________________
2. What is the ocean located on the south side of Honduras? __________________
3. What country is on the east side of Honduras? ___________________________
4. What countries are on the west side of Honduras? _________________________
and ___________________________
5. Is there a place with an English name in Honduras? What is it? ______________
E. The Copan ruins in western Honduras, near the border, are remnants of one of
the greatest pre-Columbian cities in Central America. The buildings, sculptures, and
immense hieroglyphics at the Mayan provide a unique glimpse at a long-past
civilization. Tours to this remarkable Honduras tourist attraction can be arranged
from most major cities in the country. The largest major city is; the nearest
international airport with is San Pedro Sula.
Honduras offers opportunities to see exotic animals on land, in the water, and in the
air. In early and late summer, hundreds of enormous but harmless whale sharks
gather in the waters north of Utila Island. Diving with these majestic animals of
Honduras is an unforgettable experience. Honduras' rainforests teem with such
animals as monkeys, crocodiles, and wild cats. The forests are also a birdwatchers
paradise; sometimes you can see more avian species in one Honduran tree than you
would see in most countries.
If you had the chance to visit Honduras, what places would you visit and why? Write
a mini-essay in English. Be sure to name at least three places. Paragraph should be
at least five sentences long.
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___________________________________________________________________
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F. Translate 18 of these cities in Texas into English:
1. Alta Loma _____________________________________________________
2. Amarillo ______________________________________________________
3. Aqua Dulce ____________________________________________________
4. Bandera ______________________________________________________
5. Chico ________________________________________________________
6. Del Rio _______________________________________________________
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7. Dinero _______________________________________________________
8. El Campo _____________________________________________________
9. El Cenizo _____________________________________________________
10. El Paso _______________________________________________________
11. Guerra _______________________________________________________
12. La Blanca _____________________________________________________
13. La Joya _______________________________________________________
14. Matador ______________________________________________________
15. Nada _________________________________________________________
16. Palacios ______________________________________________________
17. Progreso ______________________________________________________
18. Rancho Viejo __________________________________________________
19. Refugio _______________________________________________________
20. Rio Bravo _____________________________________________________
21. Rio Frio _______________________________________________________
22. Salado _______________________________________________________
23. San Antonio ___________________________________________________
24. Santa Fe _____________________________________________________
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