| Bolivia ~ An Historical Background | | | | of Bolivian culture. The highlight of |
| To completely appreciate the nature of | | | | any Bolivian tour should begin with a |
| Bolivia's political climate and social | | | | visit to Lake Titicaca, the second |
| structure you have to take the time to | | | | largest lake in South America and |
| review the fairly complex history it | | | | highest in elevation, it is still one of |
| shares with most of South America. Long | | | | the most densely populated areas in |
| before the arrival of the Spanish to the | | | | South America. Bordered by Peru and |
| South American continent, the Bolivian | | | | Bolivia, the southern end of this 120 |
| Highlands shared the Andean culture with | | | | mile long body of water boasts the |
| its neighbors on all sides. The Andean | | | | ancient community of Tiahuanaco, an |
| region is said to have been inhabited | | | | ancient settlement containing ruins from |
| for over 13,000 years, but it was only | | | | pre-Incan through Incan society. |
| around the second century BC that | | | | Tiahuanaco is considered by many |
| civilization began to flourish around | | | | archeologists to be the world's most |
| the southern end of Lake Titicaca, the | | | | ancient city. One of the four major |
| highest commercially navigable lake in | | | | Incan administrative areas, Kalasaya, as |
| the world, with a surface area of 8,372 | | | | it was known, was the home to the |
| square kilometers. The southern end of | | | | Aymara. As discussed earlier, the Aymara |
| the lake was the center of the Tiwanakan | | | | were known for their advanced |
| culture, which had developed an advanced | | | | architecture and agriculture. The Sun |
| understanding of architecture and | | | | Gate is the apex to this magnificent |
| agriculture until its disappearance in | | | | temple city. This immense 45 ton piece |
| 1200 AD. | | | | of stone contains a riddle carved into |
| The demise of the Tiwanakan culture | | | | its surface, confounding scientists, |
| created a vacuum that led to the advance | | | | archeologists and visitors alike, as |
| of the seven kingdoms of the Aymara, a | | | | they try to decipher its purpose. It is |
| belligerent mountain people who created | | | | said the carvings represent an ancient |
| fortified hillside towns from which they | | | | calendar dating back to 16,000 BC. The |
| governed both the highlands and the | | | | Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco are rivaled in |
| lowlands, accomplishing the latter by | | | | terms of its archeological value only to |
| colonizing local tribes. By controlling | | | | Machu Picchu in Peru. It must be noted |
| both regions and irrigating their | | | | that |
| agricultural areas, they were able to | | | | Titicaca is 12,507 feet above sea level, |
| harvest highland and tropical crops, | | | | which leaves many visitors gasping for |
| providing their people with ample food | | | | air. For those who have visited Cusco, |
| stocks. | | | | Peru (11,500), on the way to Machu |
| Despite their success at developing the | | | | Picchu, you know that a two to three day |
| region, the Aymara could not contain the | | | | visit does not afford you much time to |
| encroachment of the third ethnic group | | | | acclimate to the altitude, so plan on |
| to dominate the area, the Quechua, | | | | drinking copious amounts of cocoa tea |
| originally named for their language, but | | | | and, if you suffer any breathing issues, |
| who became known as the Incas. The | | | | bring portable oxygen. The risk in |
| Bolivian Highlands developed into one of | | | | altitude sickness comes from not having |
| four Inca administrative regions and | | | | sufficient times to acclimate to the |
| became known as Kalasaya, although | | | | elevation. Flying directly to high |
| immediate control remained under the | | | | altitudes should be accompanied by a few |
| Aymara. The ability to retain their | | | | days of light activity and getting used |
| culture and autonomy eventually led the | | | | to the oxygen deficiency. |
| Aymara to rise up against the Incas; | | | | Bolivia's administrative capital is La |
| however, the Inca were able to solidify | | | | Paz. Founded in 1548, La Paz contains |
| their hold on the territory by the | | | | over 16% of Bolivia's population and |
| beginning of the 16th century. Although | | | | serves as an excellent starting point |
| the Inca were ultimately conquered by | | | | for many of the tours around the |
| the Spanish in 1532, evidence of their | | | | country. Amboro National Park is a |
| influence can still be found in the | | | | protected wilderness representing all |
| number of Quechua speaking Indians | | | | four of the different geographical zones |
| currently living in the highlands (2.1 | | | | of Bolivia, covering almost half a |
| million, c2001). Meanwhile, the Indian | | | | million hectares, or roughly 1 ¼ |
| tribes of the Bolivian lowlands who were | | | | million acres. There are extensive tours |
| able to resist Incan control also | | | | available through Amborotours To see |
| managed to survive beyond Spanish | | | | the beginning of ancient Incan origins |
| domination. | | | | you can take a 2 day tour aboard a |
| After multiple expeditions to South | | | | catamaran from La Paz to Sun Island, |
| America in the early 1500's, the Spanish | | | | legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire. |
| Conquistador Francisco Pizarro led an | | | | It covers the Ekako Underground Museum, |
| expedition to Peru with his brothers | | | | the Titicaca Reed Shipbuilders display |
| Hernando and Gonzalo and | | | | centers and many more cultural |
| second-in-command, Diego Almagro, in | | | | exhibitions, including an unspoiled |
| 1532. At this time in Incan history | | | | Titicaca village that has been preserved |
| Huayna Capac, the reigning Emperor had | | | | in the traditional lifestyle of the |
| just died of smallpox and one of his | | | | ancients. |
| sons, Atahualpa, conquered his brother, | | | | The period before lent is celebrated |
| Huascar, to take control of his people. | | | | widely in South America. While Carnivale |
| However, the Incan empire was still in a | | | | tends to be associated primarily with |
| state of disarray from Huayna's death | | | | the world's largest celebrations in Rio |
| and Pizarro tricked and captured | | | | de Janeiro and Pernambuco, Brazil, many |
| Atualpa, ultimately killing him despite | | | | South American cities also celebrate |
| being paid an incredible ransom of four | | | | Carnival before lent. On the Sunday |
| rooms full of silver and ¼ room of gold | | | | following Ash Wednesday, a post Carnival |
| for his release. | | | | fiesta in Phujllay is an Independence |
| Pizarros' conquest of South America with | | | | Celebration commemorating the battle of |
| Diego de Almagro resulted in the region | | | | Jubati, in which the Spanish were |
| being split into a northern territory | | | | defeated by Indian soldiers on 12 March |
| under Pizarro's control and the Southern | | | | 1816. Held in Tarabuco, this all night |
| region under Almagro. A civil war broke | | | | fiesta features the traditional |
| out between their respective forces, | | | | instruments, dances and dress of the |
| ultimately culminating with Almagro's | | | | Aymara and Quechua, attracting thousands |
| defeat and execution by Pizarro in 1538. | | | | of campesinos, or farmers, from around |
| When Pizarro was assassinated by Almagro | | | | the neighboring communities. During your |
| supporters three years later, his | | | | celebration you will undoubtedly be |
| brother Gonzalo took over. However, | | | | offered some form of Chicha, which is |
| before long Gonzalo became embroiled in | | | | usually a reference to the traditional |
| a rebellion against the Spanish Crown, | | | | Chicha de jora, or fermented corn brew, |
| which ended with his execution in 1548. | | | | but can actually be any form of |
| During this period Bolivian silver mines | | | | fermented beverage. |
| produced vast quantities of the precious | | | | In the fertile Cochabamba Valley lies |
| metal that soon filled the coffers of | | | | the city of Cochabamba, whose spring |
| the Spanish Crown, but over the next | | | | like weather earned it the nickname |
| three centuries Spanish taxes and a | | | | "City of Eternal Spring" is considered |
| policy of selling imported goods to the | | | | to have the best climate in the country. |
| Indians at inflated prices was almost as | | | | The third largest city in Bolivia, with |
| lucrative for the Spanish throne. By the | | | | a population of over 800,000, Cochabamba |
| late 1700's the Criollos, or purebred | | | | boasts La Cancha, the largest open air |
| Spaniards who were born and raised in | | | | market in South America. The Cristo de |
| South America, began to resent Spanish | | | | la Concordia is the largest statue of |
| domination and the seeds of discontent | | | | Christ in the world, despite claims that |
| lead to a proclamation of Independence | | | | the Christ the Redeemer in Rio Janeiro |
| in 1809. Despite the proclamation, it | | | | is larger. Visitors can climb up to the |
| took 16 years of continued fighting | | | | arms of the statue for a tremendous |
| before the republic was born and named | | | | panoramic view of the city. There are |
| for its favorite son, Simón Bolívar, | | | | several parks for outdoors people and La |
| in 1825. | | | | Recoleta, for those who desire to enjoy |
| In the 19th century Bolivia made | | | | the nightlife of the city. |
| tremendous social and economic strides | | | | The City with Four Names, Sucre, La |
| under the leadership of Andres de Santa | | | | Plata, Charcas or Cuidad Blanca, is more |
| Cruz. Santa Cruz managed to unify | | | | than just a charming colonial city |
| Bolivia with Peru in the Confederacion | | | | blending ancient traditions with a |
| Peru-Bolivia, between 1836 and 1839. | | | | thriving economy. It is also a major |
| Perceived as a major economic threat by | | | | Bolivian agricultural center that |
| its neighbors, beginning with a | | | | supplies the altiplano, a fairly barren |
| disagreement over a wheat tariff, the | | | | area of mining communities in the upper |
| federation fell apart when the War of | | | | plains. In Sucre you can visit the Casa |
| the Confederation pitted the | | | | de la Libertad, where Bolivia's |
| Peru-Bolivian forces against Chile and | | | | Declaration of Independence was signed |
| Argentina. Chile and Argentina prevailed | | | | on August 16th 1825. Sucre is home to a |
| and the confederation was soon | | | | variety of museums and churches, |
| dissolved. For the next 60 years | | | | including the Chapel of the Virgin de |
| Bolivian history was marked by coups, | | | | Guadalupe, which features a jewel |
| short lived governments and general | | | | covered image of the Virgin painted by |
| political instability. | | | | Fray Diego de Ocaña. |
| From the days of the Spanish conquests | | | | One final note: In addition to altitude |
| Bolivia's indigenous peoples have | | | | sickness visitors should be very aware |
| suffered greatly at the hands of wealthy | | | | of Chagas Disease, which can be life |
| landowners and mining companies, who | | | | threatening. For those who like roughing |
| subjected them to menial work and a | | | | it, make no mistakes that you will be |
| second class citizenship. The Chaco War | | | | very wise to sleep inside of mosquito |
| with Paraguay in 1941 bred the | | | | netting to protect you from the bite of |
| Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, a | | | | a blood sucking bug named vinchucas, |
| non communist middle class political | | | | that looks like a harmless beetle but |
| coalition designed to create a better | | | | bites and leaves droppings behind. The |
| political system for the country's | | | | problem begins when those droppings get |
| current social structure of that period. | | | | rubbed into a bite, infecting the |
| In other words, the country began to | | | | victim. Do not sleep in traditional |
| come to grips with its social needs | | | | buildings without sealed ceilings, or |
| without resorting to the losing concept | | | | any other location without your mosquito |
| of communism that swept across so many | | | | netting around you to keep the bugs |
| agrarian nations dominated by wealthy | | | | away. This disease can take from ten to |
| landowners. A stint at military rule led | | | | twenty years to fully manifest itself, |
| the country through a transition to | | | | however, once it does the worst case |
| democracy. | | | | scenario leads to sudden heart attack |
| Where To Visit | | | | and death. If you get a hard, purple |
| Bolivia rests in the center of five | | | | itchy swelling, usually near an eye, get |
| South American countries, Argentina, | | | | to a specialist center like the one in |
| Chile, Peru, Brazil and Paraguay, each | | | | Cochabamba. |
| influence contributing to the diversity | | | | |