The 18th century saw a diversification of economic activity in agriculture and cattle ranching. During this time, the Spanish political and religious structures increased control over the area primarily through the entrenchment of the Catholic Church. In the early 19th century, Spanish rule weakened considerably notably due to the diversion of the Napoleonic wars. With the colonial power weakened, Central America peacefully gained it is independence in 1821. Central America was divided into five new states, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The five states temporarily formed a federation that dissolved in 1838 and Honduras emerged as a sovereign nation. During these years, the international core-periphery relationship between Spain and Honduras was highlighted. Coloinalization of Honduras was characterized by direct control by the Spanish and the exploitation of both it's people, for labour and the slave trade, and it's natural resources, primarily gold and silver deposits. The internal divisions o
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