The first inhabitants of South America were probably descendants of Asians who crossed the Bering Strait in prehistoric times.
Descendants of ancient Asian migrants reached what is now Argentina some 8,000 years ago; these were the ancestors of the Indians.
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.
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.
In the 16th century the northern half of Chile was part of the Inca Empire. Fierce Araucanian Indians inhabited the south.
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.
The first inhabititants of Dominica were the Arawak and then the Carib Indians. It was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
The area that is now Ecuador was inhabited as early as 3500 B.C. by people belonging to the Valdivia culture.
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.
Grenada was inhabited by Carib and Arawak Indians when it was discovered by Columbus in 1498.
European settlement began about 1596 when the Dutch entered the region. Soon slaves were imported from Africa.
Sebastian Cabot, sailing for Charles I of Spain, explored the La Plata, Paraná, and Paraguay rivers on his voyage of 1525-30.
Peru's earliest inhabitants arrived in the area about 12,000 years ago and settled along the coast.
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.