By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory was a colony between 1540 and 1818, when it gained independence from Spain.
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How long was Chile colonized?
Chile remained a colony of Spain for close to 300 years until Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquest of Spain weakened the country’s imperial grip on their South American colonies. Under Spanish colonial rule, northern and central Chile were part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Who conquered Chile?
Pedro de Valdivia
In April 1539, Francisco Pizarro authorized Pedro de Valdivia as his lieutenant governor with orders to conquer Chile. That did not include monetary aid, which he had to procure on his own.
Was Chile a British colony?
Facing the Pacific Ocean, Chile had for many years an important British presence.Around 32,000 English settled in Valparaíso, influencing the port city to the extent of making it virtually a British colony during the last decades of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Who arrived in Chile in 1536?
Spanish reconnaissance of the province of Chile began in 1536 with the arrival of Diego de Almagro, but the conquest started four years later with Pedro de Valdivia, who struggled to consolidate the Spanish dominion in the region.
When did Spanish colonize Chile?
By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory was a colony between 1540 and 1818, when it gained independence from Spain.
Who first discovered Chile?
Ferdinand Magellan
The first European to discover Chile was Ferdinand Magellan, in 1520, following the passage in the Strait which bears his name on a wall, at the southern tip of Latin America.
How did Chile get its name?
The origin of the name “Chile” may come from the indigenous Aimara word “chili”, meaning “where the land ends.” It could also be based on the Mapuche imitation of a bird call which sounds like “cheele cheele.”
When did Valdivia conquer Chile?
1540
For the Chilean expedition, Valdivia took charge (1540) of a force of 150 Spaniards (including his mistress, Inés Suárez) and some Indian allies. He marched across the coastal desert of northern Chile, defeated a large force of Indians in the valley of Chile, and, on Feb. 12, 1541, founded Santiago.
When did Chile get its independence?
February 12, 1818
Why do Chileans have English names?
English Chileans (Spanish: Anglochilenos) are citizens of Chile who are descended from English people who have emigrated.The English colony was also important in the northern zone of the country during the saltpeter boom, in the ports of Iquique and Pisagua.
When did Britain invade Chile?
With nearly 6,300 men they took it in January 1806. Popham received new orders from the admiralty to patrol the east coast of South America, from Rio de Janeiro to the Río de la Plata, in order to detect any attempt to counterattack the Cape.
Is Chile a 1st world country?
The Republic of Chile (officially) by this metrics ranks 42nd out of 189 countries and would thus be considered a FIRST WORLD nation by their HDI ranking.Chile ranks 42, which falls into the “First World” category by this updated metric representation.
Who claimed Chile as part of the Spanish empire 1536?
Chile: Precolonial period
…in 1536–37, when forces under Diego de Almagro, associate and subsequent rival of Francisco Pizarro,……
What language is spoken in Chile?
Spanish
Why did Chile want independence from Spain?
Prelude to Independence
Chile’s de facto independence in 1810 came about as a result of a number of factors, including a corrupt governor, the French occupation of Spain and growing sentiment for independence.
How many slaves did Chile have?
Although no economic benefits led to any large importation of African slaves to Chile, roughly around 6,000 Africans were transported directly to Chile where they went into mainly domestic service as a means of status for colonists and as a work force in the mining of Gold in Arica.
Who ruled Chile before independence?
Spain conquered and colonized the region in the mid-16th century, replacing Inca rule, but failing to conquer the independent Mapuche who inhabited what is now south-central Chile. In 1818, after declaring independence from Spain, Chile emerged in the 1830s as a relatively stable authoritarian republic.
Who Rules Chile now?
Since 2018, Sebastian Piñera is the current president. He won the 2017 Chilean general election and assumed the office on 11 March 2018 for the second term.
Is Chile a poor country?
Poverty in Chile has a fairly low percentage of 14.4 percent, which is lower than the United States. However, Chile’s problem lies in the country’s high rates of income inequality: and this alone has driven around 10 percent of people into poverty. The inequality also reverts back to the poor education systems.
What does the word Chile mean?
1a : a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency. — called also chili pepper. b chiefly British chilli : a pepper whether hot or sweet. 2a : a thick sauce of meat and chilies liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili.