Guatemala is a representative democracy, its capital is Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City. Guatemala’s abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contributes to Mesoamerica’s designation as a biodiversity hotspot.

The former Mayan civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization, which continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish. The Mayans lived in Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, the southern part of Mexico and northern parts of El Salvador before European settlers arrived.

Etymology

The origin of the name “Guatemala” is unclear, but several theories exist. “Guatemala” is derived from “Goathemala,” which means “the land of the trees” in the Maya-Toltec language.

Another theory is that it comes from the Nahuatl expression “Cuauhtitlan,” meaning “between the trees.” “Cuauhtitlan” was the name the Tlaxcaltecan soldiers who accompanied Pedro de Alvarado during the Spanish Conquest gave to this territory.

Lastly, there is a theory that it is the Spanish corruption of a Nahoa word “coactmoct-lan,” meaning “land of the snake eating bird.”