The many different remains that have been uncovered in the area demonstrate that Chile is a country which has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, around 10,000 years before Christ.
We then jump forward in time to the Pre-Hispanic age, before arriving at contemporary times. Many names and eras stand out in this country’s history.

Chile is a country which has sheltered various tribes such as the Aimaras, Atacameños and Diagutas, above all until thirteenth century when different cultures began to establish themselves, such as farming communities who were influenced by the Inca Empire. Later came the Mapuches, and in the southernmost areas indigenous colonies such as the Yamanas began to settle.

On Easter Island for example, evidence remains of a remarkable Polynesian culture, now extinguished.

XVI century- XX century

It was the sixteenth century when the Spanish arrived in Chile, specifically Hernando de Magallanes in 1520 who was the first Spaniard to set foot here, travelling along the Strait which would later bear his name. The definitive conquest of Chile, achieved after several attempts, was the work of Pedro de Valdivia, who founded the city of Santiago de Nueva Extremadura in 1541, some twenty years after the arrival of Magallanes. Valdivia fought against the Mapuches in the famous battle of Arauco.

Another name which stands out in the history of Chile is that of Bernard O'Higgins who at the beginning of the nineteenth century began the process of self determination for Chile. It was O'Higgins who established the First Government Body, although this first attempt was thwarted by Royalist troops. Chile was once again liberated in 1817 by General José de San Martin leading pro-independence tropos in the battle of Chacabuco. A year later, Chile had its independence. The country's first constitution dates from 1833.

The country's conservative and liberal parties took turns to rule the country in subsequent years. In 1865 with a liberal government in power, and the country in dispute with Bolivia, Chile entered into war with Spain, and remained at war with the country for almost 20 years, until peace was eventually signed in 1883. This period saw the bombing of Valparaiso by the Spanish Naval Fleet.
An important name from the end of the nineteenth century was José Manuel Balmaceda, the government President whose differences with Congress led to the outbreak of civil war.



XX century

In 1925 the Constitution of Chile was approved, thereby opening a new phase in the country; the Republic. Carlos Ibáñez Del Campo became the first president of the Republic of Chile in 1927. This was a difficult era for Chile, with the economic consequences of the First World War still very apparent in the country.

Ibáñez held the presidency of Chile until 1932, when Pedro Aguirre was elected to the position. Subsequent presidents included Gabriel González Videla, Jorge Alessandri, and Eduardo Frei Montalvo.
In 1970 Salvador Allende of the Communist Party was elected president of Chile, but the economic crisis of 1972-1973, and the political meddling of the USA government in the region led to a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet on the 11th of September 1973, with tragic consequences for Allende, who was either murdered, or according to his opponents, committed suicide in the presidential palace.

Pinochet imposed a dictatorship and suppressed freedom in the country, and a period of repression and the violation of human rights followed, with an estimated 4,000 civilians murdered, more than 40,000 people tortured, and more than 200,000 Chileans forced into exile.

Democracy returned to Chile in 1988, and Patricio Aylwin was elected the first president of the post-dictatorship era. Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet respectively have been the subsequent presidents of the Republic of Chile.