Ecuador History
 The area we now a days call Ecuador, was earlier inhabited by indigenous tribes. Throughout Throughout the times different cultures have lived and ruled the Ecuadorian lands, as for example the the Valdivia culture which is the oldest known in the Ecuadorian Pacific coast, and the Cañaris that followed it. It is knowned that Ecuador was inhabited at least 4500 years before the Incas arrived, but many people believe that these lands where inhabited 10 000 years B.C.
By the fifteenth century, all parts of Ecuador was conquered by the Incas, with Huayna Capac leading, until the first Europeans reached the Pacific Coast in year 1526. The Inca Empire  had a great extension, from the highlands to an area near Quito, but with Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro, finally the first Spanish settlement was established in the year 1534. Since then, interactions between the two cultures where born, specially in art, even though the indigenous population suffered far worse under Spanish force than under the Inca rule. Centuries passes by until the 17th century, when Spanish colonial economy began to fall, meantime the population was developing ideas on equality and freedom. Independence really began to take form when pure Spanish men, born in the New World began to participate in  the revolution. The first uprising against the Spanish rule took place in 1809, but not until May 24th, 1822 in the Pichincha Battle, did Ecuador gain independence as a part of the Federation of Gran Colombia, from which it withdrew in 1830. Ecuador then became a Republic and ever since it has suffered many problems and crisis, but this country with its culture, natural resources and positive people just keep going on, and have learned to value everything about this wonderful country. Equadorians have a history that can explain many aspects in contemporary life. Now that we know who we are and value what we have, we invite you to visit Ecuador and discover our secrets… |
