Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Bolivia's history is evident in every corner of daily life - in the country's pre-Hispanic ru-
ins, colonial-era churches and in the museums, galleries and chaotic markets of the city
centers. The cultural imprint that dates back more than 6000 years is seen in the language,
dress, customs and traditions of indigenous peoples, and in the unique dual society that
sorts Spanish descendants, recent immigrants and indigenous peoples into difficult-to-es-
cape archetypes: a dominant paradigm that is only now being challenged with the rise of
the country's first self-declared indigenous president.
From a purely economic standpoint, Bolivia is a country that never should have been.
The country has vast natural resources but a small, sparse population, meaning that it
primarily produces raw goods but lacks the industry required to turn these into more valu-
able products. Politic- ally it has been pushed and pulled and bent out of shape by the
stronger forces centering in Cuzco, Madrid, Lima, Buenos Aires and Washington. And
while much of Bolivia's history follows the macro-trends of the rest of South America, the
country's spirit, character and context have come together to form a complex and intricate
story unique unto itself.
