History of Bolivia: Colonial History. Bolivia's Colonial Era A. Bolivia's history changed dramatically when in the Spanish defeated the great Incas, and other ethnic groups that had historically inhabited the area. The Incas were so severely weakened by European diseases brought over by the Spaniards that they were unable to properly defend themselves and were conquered by an army of about men led by Francisco Pizarro. The Spaniards were interested primarily in the silver mines discovered in the area and exploited the region and its inhabitants mercilessly, forcing them to work as slaves to extract massive amounts of minerals for export to Spain over the next years.
Because of this, Bolivia's society was, and four centuries later continues to be, largely stratified with clear differences and wide gaps between the impoverished indigenous class which comprise roughly two-thirds of the population and the wealthy, lighter-skinned European upper class.
This mountain was mined for silver and tin for over years until roughly The silver mines found in Potosi are the largest ever found in the Western Hemisphere. They became a major commercial hub of the Spanish colonies and resulted in the colonization of the entire stretch between Cuzco, Peru and Potosi, Bolivia. Local government was the responsibility of the Royal Audience directed by a President.
This Audience was known as the Audiencia de Charcas. As was the case in other places, the Spanish overseers were widely ignorant of the situation of the people and considered themselves superior to the indigenous people. It was not uncommon for these Oidores to make the people bow to them.
In a reorganization of territories was ordered by Spain and Upper Peru joined the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata against the wishes of the Viceroyalty of Peru—which would stand to lose valuable natural resources and the money that would come with them. This would bitterly divide the relationship between these two regions.
Further dividing the bases of power was the implementation of the intendancy system that subdivided the power of Viceroy and created internal power struggles between Intendants and Viceroys. At the start of the 19th century, a perfect storm of circumstances came together to fan the flames of independence in South America. Pizarro defeated and executed Almagro in but was himself assassinated three years later by former supporters of Almagro.
Pizarro's brother Gonzalo assumed control of Upper Peru but soon became embroiled in a rebellion against the Spanish crown. Only with the execution of Gonzalo Pizarro in did Spain succeed in reasserting its authority; later that year, colonial authorities established the city of La Paz, which soon became an important commercial and transshipment center. Indian resistance delayed the conquest and settlement of the Bolivian lowlands. It is believed they even made contact with the Nazca people, of modern-day Peru.
But the Tihuanacos were not the only culture living in Bolivia in these ancient times. The Bolivian lowlands were inhabited by the Moxos, whilst the Mollos lived north of what is now La Paz. All of these cultures disappeared, almost into thin air, at about the same time. As luck would have it, or as history has shown, when one culture disappears it is usually at the hands of one mightier, greater power.
The Incas , one of the most known ancient empire in South America , rose to prominence in Bolivia in the 15 th century, advancing and conquering lands at a head-spinning speed. They assimilated foreign indigenous cultures into their own, enslaving them to work in their mines and fields, and building their great cities and aqueducts. Reflection of tourist at the Salar de Uyuni.
The Spanish arrived in Bolivia looking for gold and riches in the early s. Their rule was brutal and, it must be said, also very efficient. Within a decade, it is said, the country we now called Bolivia was conquered. Called Upper Peru and under the administration of Lime, Bolivia was turned into one, bona fide, colossal mine. Over the next years, Bolivia — and its indigenous inhabitants — was prolifically exploited for minerals and labour, with all the revenue shipped out across the Atlantic.
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