Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community, and is considered part of the Caribbean region and the historical British West Indies. The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about 1200.