Howstuffworks "South American History by Country"

History of South America

The first inhabitants of South America were probably descendants of Asians who crossed the Bering Strait in prehistoric times.

History of Argentina

History of Argentina. Descendants of ancient Asian migrants reached what is now Argentina some 8,000 years ago; these were the ancestors of the Indians.

History of Bolivia

An early civilization was established at Tiahuanaco, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, probably by Aymará Indians; it flourished between 600 and 1000 A.D.

History of Brazil

Archeological evidence indicates that Indians moving south from North America had settled in what is now Brazil by at least 12,000 to 10,000 B.C.

History of Chile

In the 16th century the northern half of Chile was part of the Inca Empire. Fierce Araucanian Indians inhabited the south.

History of Colombia

Colombia has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. At the time of its exploration by the Spanish, the dominant Indian tribe was the Chibcha, a culturally advanced and warlike people.

History of Dominica

The first inhabititants of Dominica were the Arawak and then the Carib Indians. It was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

History of Ecuador

The area that is now Ecuador was inhabited as early as 3500 B.C. by people belonging to the Valdivia culture.

History of French Guiana

The first major French settlement was at Cayenne in 1643. The colony was at various times controlled by the Dutch, English, French, and Portuguese until French rule was restored in 1817.

History of Grenada

Grenada was inhabited by Carib and Arawak Indians when it was discovered by Columbus in 1498.

History of Guyana

European settlement began about 1596 when the Dutch entered the region. Soon slaves were imported from Africa.

History of Paraguay

Sebastian Cabot, sailing for Charles I of Spain, explored the La Plata, Paraná, and Paraguay rivers on his voyage of 1525-30.

History of Peru

Peru's earliest inhabitants arrived in the area about 12,000 years ago and settled along the coast.

History of Suriname

The English began the first colony in Suriname in 1630. They built plantations along the coastal plain and brought in African slaves to work them.

History of Trinidad and Tobago

When Europeans arrived in the 15th century, Trinidad and Tobago were occupied by the Arawak and Carib Indians.

Prior to European settlement, only a few Indians lived in what is now Uruguay. Juan Díaz de Solís, a Spanish explorer, discovered the Río de la Plata in 1516 and was the first European to land on the Banda Oriental (eastern bank), as Uruguay was initially called.