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