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The historical context of the tradition of Jeets' mek' is linked to the Ancient Maya Civilization and the Caste War based on the migration of the Mayas in that period to Belize.
Ancient Maya Civilization
The Ancient Maya Civilization, tracing back approximately four thousand years to around 2000 BC. This is the period associated with all the significant changes experienced across Mesoamerica; this is the beginning of what is called the Preclassic. Early Maya people were essentially what one can consider nomadic farmers, as they slowly started adapting to a more sedentary way of life. Archaeological evidence shows that about 1000 BC, villages had begun to emerge across the Maya lowlands. By quite a while into the Late Preclassic period, roughly around 300 BC, more complex regional centers began competing with others for influence within the southern Maya lowlands, marking another important step toward developing what eventually became the Classic Maya civilization.
Caste War
The Caste War that took place from 1847 to 1901 was a revolt of the Maya People from Yucatan against the Europeans. The Mayas from the northern part of Belize originated from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and arrived in Belize in the mid-nineteenth century as refugees from the Caste War. They now reside in the Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo Districts. Today, the Yucatec Maya are primarily English and Spanish speakers. The migration of the Mayas had a lasting impact on the demographic makeup of the region, with their cultural influence that is still practiced nowadays. The British, initially drawn to the area for mahogany harvesting, found themselves needing to respond to continued conflict involving some Maya groups by establishing forts and deploying troops for defense against intrusions into Maya lands. The remains of Forts Mundy and Cairns in Orange Walk Town stand as tangible reminders of this period. Even cultural expressions, such as the murals in Corozal Town Hall, reflect the complex perspectives surrounding this historical conflict.
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