Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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480

For thousands oF years, the continent of south america

developed independently from the rest of the world. Great cultures

rose and fell, among them the nazcas, Chimus, and Incas, all of which

developed highly advanced civilizations of great wealth and achievement.

In 1532, the spaniards invaded the Inca empire, and within a few years

ruled over most of the continent. the Portuguese established control

over Brazil. soon, spanish and Portuguese became the

main languages of south america, and for the next

300 years the affairs of south america were decided

in europe. the native peoples were almost wiped

out by disease and ill treatment. When spain and

Portugal became involved in the napoleonic wars

in europe, the south americans seized the chance to

win their independence. afterward, the new countries

were ruled by european families who had settled in south

america. Many more europeans arrived during the 19th

and early 20th centuries. the nations of south america have

only recently begun to control their destinies.

South AmericA

ChIMu eMPIre

the Chimu empire

centered on the vast capital

city of Chan Chan, in what

is now northern Peru. the

empire covered much of

the Pacific coast of south

america and reached the

height of its power in the

15th century. around 1470,

the Incas conquered the

Chimu empire, and Chan

Chan fell into ruin. the

Chimu are remembered as

a highly civilized society.

the royal dead were

buried with a wealth of

funeral offerings.

Attendants, uniformly

dressed, carry the

dead king on a bier.

sPanIsh doMInatIon

From 1532 to 1810, spain controlled

480- South America, history of

from Portuguese-owned Brazil. the vast

spanish empire there was divided into

three viceroyalties—new Granada in the

north, Peru in the center, and rio de la

Plata in the south. on the right is santiago,

the patron saint of spanish soldiers.

treaty oF tordesIllas

In the 1494 treaty of

tordesillas, spain and

Portugal divided the

non-european world

between them. they drew

a rough line down the

south american continent,

giving spain the lands to

the west, and Portugal the

lands to the east of the line.

natIve aMerICans

the native americans

were put to work as

slaves in the silver mines.

they were also forced

to labor in the big

plantations of sugar and

other crops that were

exported to europe.

Most native americans

died of poor conditions,

overwork, and european

diseases they had no

immunity against.

hiStory of

south america

200 bce-600 ce nazca empire

in Peru.

600 City-states of tiahuanaco

and huari in Peru.

1000-1470 Chimu empire

in Peru.

1200 Inca empire in Bolivia,

Chile, ecuador, and Peru.

1494 treaty of tordesillas

divides new World between

spain and Portugal.

1499-1510 amerigo vespucci

explores coast of south

america; the continent is

named after him.

1530 Portuguese colonize

Brazil.

1532-33 spanish, led by

Francisco Pizarro, conquer

Inca empire.

1545 silver discovered in

Peru.

1808-25 liberation wars:

spanish and Portuguese

colonies

1822-89 empire of Brazil

1879-84 Border wars between

Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.

1932-35 War between

Paraguay and Bolivia over

disputed territory.

1946 Juan Perón becomes

President of argentina.

1967 “Che” Guevara killed in

Bolivia.

Dead Chimu king is

prepared for burial

in a sitting position.

Portuguese

territories

Line of

demarcation

1494

Spanish

territories

Gold mask Chimu burial ceremony

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