Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Peru, then south to Argentina. This effectively
cut off any commercial traffic for the fledgling
city on the Río de la Plata. For 200 years Bue-
nos Aires remained a small town, peopled pri-
marily by
criollos
, Spaniards born in Argentina
and
mestizos
, those of mixed Spanish/Indian
descent.
The major
industry was
smuggling
Spanish goods.
It was the northwest part of today's Argentina,
along with Córdoba, that experienced the
greatest growth due to its proximity to Peru.
Wheat, cotton, corn and tobacco were cultivated
here for export.
The Jesuits estab-
lished the univer-
sity in Córdoba in
1613, making it a
cultural center as
well.
In 1776 the Spanish decided to open the Río de
la Plata for transatlantic trade. They had cre-
ated the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata and
named Buenos Aires as its administrative cen-
ter. One immediate effect was a population
explosion with 25,000 new inhabitants swelling
the city to over 30,000 in just two years. As the
city flourished, so did the fertile pampas sur-
rounding it. Here vast
estancias
(ranches) were
established and the
gaucho
rode into the coun-
try's folklore.
About a third of
the new inhabit-
ants were Afri-
cans brought
here as slaves.
Their fate is
largely
unknown.
Defending Against Europe
Events in Europe began to affect the new Vice-
royalty. Spain's navy was virtually destroyed
by the British during the Napoleonic wars,
leaving the colonies vulnerable to attack. And
attack the British did. In 1806, the city was suc-
cessfully defended by a ragtag army organized
by a local hero,
Santiago de Liniers.
The fol-
lowing year, the British sent 8,000 men to
