Originally, the Americas were thought to have been first populated approximately 11,500 years ago via the Bering land bridge, as highlighted in the Clovis paradigm. However, during the 1980’s, a discovery of a small child’s footprint in a marshy field in Chile’s Monte Verde, situated close to Puerto Montt, was to undermine the current archaeological evidence when estimated to be approximately 12,500 years old. Further exploration of the area provided evidence of human habitation in Chile is dated back to as far as 33,000 years. In 1988, the Monte Verde site was acknowledged as the oldest inhabited site within the Americas, giving rise to new theories of multiple entries to the Americas via coastal landings and the use of different routes to those previously thought. Further archaeological findings in New Mexico have been dated as far back as 40,000 years.
Most archaeological discoveries have been located in northern Chile due to the extreme aridity of the desert. Preserved mummies were intentionally created by the Chinchorro culture and are the oldest in existence today.
It has been established that the Aymara farmers grew potatoes and maize, raised livestock of llama and alpaca within the canyons of the north desert. Within the ParqueNacionalLauca, you will still see this practice being carried out by their descendants using very similar techniques. The Atacameno culture was another important civilization within Chile’s history; well-preserved remains ranging from mummified corpses to tablets that explain the preparation of hallucinogenic substances are still in existence. Modern-day cultures that have existed since these earlier times are the El Molle and the Tiwanaku and are responsible for many geoglyphs, ceramics, and etchings from the era.
The Inca culture attempted an invasion into Chile, and enjoyed a brief ascendancy within northern Chile, though the Picunche farmers and Mapuche cultivators prevented their ascent further into Chile with fierce resistance.
In 1495, Spain and Portugal were regarded as highly powerful countries. The Treaty of Tordesillas delivered all territory west of Brazil to Spain. By the mid 16th century, Florida, Mexico, and central Chile were dominated by the Spaniards who were ruthless in exploiting, frightening, and ultimately controlling the native people. Although horses and firearms were of great benefit to the Spaniards quest, their main form of attack was infectious disease, to which the natives had no immunity.
Although the Andes Mountain Range proved to be an almost impenetrably access route, with many Spaniards and their horses freezing to death on the mountain sides, eventually, Pedro de Valdivia gained access by trawling through the arid desert, in 1540. Finally reaching the more fertile Mapocho Valley in 1541, the city of Santiago was founded. Despite various attempts from the native inhabitants, Spain managed to maintain control and the population steadily increased. Although Spain’s original interest was gold and silver, it soon became apparent that the New World offered much more besides; Enslaving the indigenous people to carry out physical labor. Although a fairly simple task in northern Chile to an already existing hierarchy of command within their cultures, the indigenous people of central Chile mounted resistance. Even into the late 19th century, central Chile remained an area of unease and became notoriously unsafe for white settlers.
Due to the mix in races, Mestizo children, a combination of indigenous and Spanish parentage quickly outnumbered the indigenous population. Slavery abuse, warfare, and infection soon decreased their numbers.
Between 1808 and 1810, a revolution was spawned from the criollo (creole) class – American born Spaniards who would fight for self-government. Madrid had decreed that all trade to and from Spain must pass overland through Panama to enable tax collection. Transportation via ships was strictly over-ruled, eventually causing the downfall of the Spanish empire. Independent movements joined forces throughout South America to expel Spain from Chile by the 1820’s and driving Spain back across Peru.
The War of the Pacific in 1879 – 1884 was to determine Chile’s expansion in mineral wealth. The war began when Bolivia prevented a Chilean company from mining the nitrate deposits in Atacama, which was then owned by Bolivia. Chile began a successful attack on Antofagasta, the main Bolivian port, along with Tacna and Arica from Peru. In retaliation, Chile has effectively blocked the Bolivian’s access to the Pacific. Chile prospered through the imminent nitrate boom, Chile’s transportation system was vastly improved, and the economy boomed. Although the nitrate industry slowed with the invention of petroleum based fertilizers, this very land was to provide Chile with a vast copper mining industry, which is still one of the main contributors to Chile’s economy.