colonization+of+the+Spanish

__ The Colonization of Bolivia __

Bolivia was a country colonized by t he Spanish like most South and Central American countries. Francisco Pizarro led the conquest of the Spanish. He and the Spanish Conquistadors landed in Bolivia in 1531 A.D. Within only two short years, Pizarro and the Conquistadors successfully conquered the Incans in Bolivia (mtholyoke). They were able to do it easily because of the Incan myths. The Incans thought that the Conquistadors were gods and allowed them into their cities and villages. They were able to trick the Incans and capture them (mtholyoke). A strategic move that Pizarro made was forming allies with Indian tribes that hated the Incan Empire. Along with the Conquistadors killing off the Incans, diseases were also a huge source of death to the Incans. Since the Incans were never exposed to these foreign diseases, their immune systems were defenseless to these diseases and in many cases died from them (mtholyoke). In 1533 A.D. the Incan capital Cuzco fell and a Spanish colony was built in its place. Rebellions of the Incans periodically occurred throughout the next few centuries, most of them occurring in the 1500’s. During the first twenty years of the Spanish rule, civil war broke out between Pizarro and Almagro (another Conquistador). This delayed the settling of Bolivia. But in 1538, Pizzaro finally was able to overcome Almagro and defeat him. Pizzaro killed him and took back control. Three years later, Pizzaro was assassinated by some of Almargo’s men (mtholyoke). His brother took his place and rebelled against the Spain. In 1548 A.D. the Spanish Crown was finally able to put its authority back into place and establish the city of La Paz. This city later became one of the biggest cities in the Western Hemisphere was critical in Bolivian trade.

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