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