A Brief History of Central America, Second Edition explores the history of the Central American isthmus from the pre-Columbian cultures to the contemporary nations that make up the region today: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. This second edition brings the history of the region up to date with new developments, including recent elections, the continued struggle with the aftermath of the civil wars, and the impact of the free trade agreement signed with the United States in 2003/2004.