History of Population and Settlement
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Humans have inhabited the Costa Rican rain forests for at least 10,000 years. Since Costa Rica’s geographic location, it has served as an intersection of America’s native cultures. It is estimated that during the time Christopher Columbus landed off of the Costa Rican shores in 1502, there were at least 400,000 natives inhabiting Costa Rica.
There is very little evidence of pre-Columbian culture remaining since the Costa Rican rains have washed away any artifacts or ruins. It is estimated that the region hosted roughly 20 small tribes, that were organized into chiefdom's, indicated that a permanent leader, or cacique, who sat upon a hierarchical society that included shaman, warriors, toilers and slaves. The main language of the region was called Huetar, and all the natives in the Central Valley commonly knew it. The only archaeological site uncovered in Costa Rica was at Guayabo, which is located in the Central Valley. The site featured paved streets, an aqueduct and decorative gold.
On the eastern side of the country, Carib Indians dominated. They were the conduit of trade with the South American mainland. The Indians of the northwest were connected to the Aztec and Mayans of Meso-America, where evidence of Aztec religious practices and Mayan jade were present in the Nicoya Peninsula. These more concentrated tribes tended to be more agricultural. The three chiefdom's found in the southwest showed the influence of Andean Indian cultures, including coca leaves, yucca and sweet potatoes.
Citation- "Costa Rica." History of Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history>.
There is very little evidence of pre-Columbian culture remaining since the Costa Rican rains have washed away any artifacts or ruins. It is estimated that the region hosted roughly 20 small tribes, that were organized into chiefdom's, indicated that a permanent leader, or cacique, who sat upon a hierarchical society that included shaman, warriors, toilers and slaves. The main language of the region was called Huetar, and all the natives in the Central Valley commonly knew it. The only archaeological site uncovered in Costa Rica was at Guayabo, which is located in the Central Valley. The site featured paved streets, an aqueduct and decorative gold.
On the eastern side of the country, Carib Indians dominated. They were the conduit of trade with the South American mainland. The Indians of the northwest were connected to the Aztec and Mayans of Meso-America, where evidence of Aztec religious practices and Mayan jade were present in the Nicoya Peninsula. These more concentrated tribes tended to be more agricultural. The three chiefdom's found in the southwest showed the influence of Andean Indian cultures, including coca leaves, yucca and sweet potatoes.
Citation- "Costa Rica." History of Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history>.
5 Major Turning Points for the Population in Costa Rica
1. Nomadic people cross the Bering Straight from Asia and enter North America. Begin massive movement south, eventually spreading to Central and South America.
2. Central America becomes the cross roads of Meso-American and South American cultures, having strong evidence of influence on the natives peoples of Costa Rica.
3. Christopher Columbus on his fourth and final voyage to the New World, lands on the Costa Rican shores in 1502. Encountered friendly natives who wore gold and jade jewelry. He named the land "la costa rica" or "the rich coast".
4. Old World diseases decimate the native populations of the New World. Costa Rica and the surrounding regions are hit hard by diseases such as small pox, measles, chicken pox, and whooping cough.
5. Spaniards begin to colonize Costa Rica in 1522. Wanted at first to exploit natural resources such as gold and silver. Little to no ore deposits were discovered. Soon the Spanish turned to agriculture. Costa Rica had a slow colonization compared to other Central and South American regions.
Citation- "Costa Rica." History of Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history>.
2. Central America becomes the cross roads of Meso-American and South American cultures, having strong evidence of influence on the natives peoples of Costa Rica.
3. Christopher Columbus on his fourth and final voyage to the New World, lands on the Costa Rican shores in 1502. Encountered friendly natives who wore gold and jade jewelry. He named the land "la costa rica" or "the rich coast".
4. Old World diseases decimate the native populations of the New World. Costa Rica and the surrounding regions are hit hard by diseases such as small pox, measles, chicken pox, and whooping cough.
5. Spaniards begin to colonize Costa Rica in 1522. Wanted at first to exploit natural resources such as gold and silver. Little to no ore deposits were discovered. Soon the Spanish turned to agriculture. Costa Rica had a slow colonization compared to other Central and South American regions.
Citation- "Costa Rica." History of Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/history>.
For More Information on the History of Costa Rica, Click on These Links Below
The first link gives you more information on the culture of the first peoples of Costa Rica.
The second link will allow you to explore more the history of population of Costa Rica.
The second link will allow you to explore more the history of population of Costa Rica.
Population Over 50 Years
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In 1950, Costa Rican mortality rate was mostly concentrated at the bottom of the pyramid. That is, more people would dying in there late teens and early to mid-twenties. Also, infancy mortality rate is high. This is due to lack of medical and nutritional supplies for infants at this time.
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60 years later, more and more people are living longer. They are dying less in there infancy, most likely due to the advancement of medicine and the availability of it. People are now living into their 80's and 90's, something that was not seen sixty years ago.