The Inca rule touched Chile, but northern Aymara and Atacameno farmers and herders predated the lords of Cuzco, while Changos fished costal areas and Diaguitas farmed in the interior of Coquimbo (beyond the central valley). Araucanian (Mapuche) Indians resisted Inca aggression. Cunco Indians fished and farmed on the Island of Chiloe. Smaller groups long avoided European contact in the far south, but are now nearly extinct.
Their plateau ethnic groups are Arauco and Polonisia, Qechuas, Aimara's, Mapuches, and Pasquenses. They are all part of this exotic and attractive world that attracts permanent interest. Arqaeology were the first men to reside on this extreme south of the continent.
During the Colonial Times, Pedro de Valdivia, an important part of Chile's history, left Peru in 1540 to found Santiago. He was determined to pursue the south, founding Concepcion, Valdivia, and Villarrica. He was, however, killed by a Mapuche several years later. Spaniards dominated North and Central Chile, but Mapuche defenders made the area South of Bio-Bio River unsafe for over 3 centuries. The Spaniards interbred with women until they were out numbered.
Rise of the Latifundio started when Valdivia rewarded his loyalist with land grants. The Spanish became tenants that evolved from livestock to agriculture. These estates became dominant forces in Chilean Society. In return, they provided labour during annual rodeos and defended the interest of the owner.
During the Revolutionary Wars & the Early Republic, Jose de San Martin's Army of the Andes, part of the independence movement, marched from Argentina into Chile. Bernardo O'Higgins became 'Supreme Director' of the Chilean Republic. He lost Cuyo Region to Argentina, but managed rapid progress in agriculture, mining, industry and commerce. He also centralized power in Santiago and established Catholicism as the state religion.
The Territorial Expansion & Economic Development in Chile annexed remote Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in 1888. The nitrate ports of Antofagasta and Iquique grew rapidly until the Panama Canal (1914) reduced traffic around Cape Horn. Mining also created a new working class and a class of noveau rich, who both challenged the landowners.
During the 20th- Century Developments Chile's rural population still lived on estates (latifundios).
As industry expanded and public works advanced, urban workers' welfare improved, but that of rural workers declined, forcing day labourers to the cities. President Arturo Alessandri Palma instituted land and income taxes to fund health, education and warfare reforms, but conserve obstruction and army opposition forced his resignation. Corfo, the state developed corporation, played a major economic role, and North American companies gained control of copper mines, now that cornerstone of the economy.
During the Christian Democratic Ascendancy, in 1952, Ibanez del Campo attempts to curtail landowners' power faltered. In 1961 opposition gains forced president Alessandri to accept modest land reforms that began a decade of battle with the fundos. In the 1964 presidential election Frei decisively defeated Allende. Frei advocated Chileanization of the copper industry, while Allende and his backers demanded nationalization.
When Allende Came to Power his program included state control of many private enterprises and massive income redistribution. Increasing public spending briefly stimulated growth, but falling production brought shortages, soaring inflation and black marketeering. Harvests declined, expropriation of copper mines and other enterprises, plus conspicuously friendly relations with Cuba, provoked US hostility.
On September 11, 1973, General Agusto Pinochet led a brutal 'Golpe de Estado' that resulted in the death of Allende. Allende's pledges to the opposition were credible, but his inability or unwillingness to control forces to his left terrified the middle classes and outraged the oligarchy underlining his failure.
During the Military Dictatorship most politicians expected a quick return to civilian rule, but Pinochet took 16 years to remake Chile's political and economic culture, largely by terror - more than 4000 Chileans and foreigners 'disappeared' during his dictatorship, mostly in the first few years. International assassinations were not unusual. In 1980 Pinochet submitted a new constitution to the voters; about two-thirds approved it.
In October 1988, voters rejected Pinochet's bid to extend his presidency until 1997. Pinochet's custom-made constitution limited Aylwin's well-intentioned presidency, which, however, did see the publication of the Rettig report documenting deaths and disappearances during the dictatorship.
About 10,000 years ago, migrating Native Americans settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the area's barrenness prevented extensive settlement. A traditional Chilean legend states:
"In the beginning of time, God created the wonders of the world. When he was finished, however, he saw that he had many leftover pieces. He had parts of rivers and valleys, of oceans and lakes, of glaciers and deserts, of mountains and forests, and of meadows and hills. Rather than to let such beauty go to waste, God put them all together and cast them to the most remote corner of the earth. This is how Chile was born."
