Bolivia. Early civilizations. Bolivar and liberation. Bolivia Today

Wrapped in woolen ponchos and shawls for protection against the chilly mountain dampness, three Indian women are ready begin their daily chores. Their colorful garments stand out boldly against the desolate landscape of Bolivia's Altiplano. A high plateau that lies between two craggy ranges of the Andes Mountains, the Altiplano is home to about 40 per cent of the country's population. Many inhabitants of this region live in La Paz, the capital and largest city. Campesinos—the poor Indian farmers who make up Bolivia's largest social class—live in the countryside.

The campesinos wear the traditional clothing of their ancestors. The women dress in full, sweeping skirts that almost touch the ground, and many wear derby hats. The men wear striped ponchos. The campesino customs and way of life are also deeply rooted in the past. In many parts of Bolivia, the Indians live much as their ancestors did before the Spaniards conquered them in the 1530's.

Early civilizations. American Indians lived in the region that is now Bolivia as long as 10,000 years ago. About A.D. 100, the Tiahuanaco Indians developed a major civilization near Lake Titicaca. They built gigantic monuments and carved statues out of stone. The Tiahuanaco civilization declined during the 1200's, and by the late 1300's, a warlike tribe called the Aymara Indians controlled the area. The Aymara were conquered by the Inca during the 1400's, and the region became part of the great Inca empire. In the 1530's, the Spanish conquistadors defeated the Inca.

Spanish colonial rule brought years of misery and suffering to the Bolivian Indians. Forced to work on the haciendas (large ranches) and in the silver mines, many died from mistreatment and from diseases brought by the Spaniards. The Indians frequently revolted against Spanish tyranny, but they were quickly and brutally crushed. The most famous rebellion was organized in 1781 by Tupac Amaru II, who would have been the official heir to the Inca throne.

Bolivar and liberation. In 1824, the great Venezuelan general Simon Bolivar sent Antonio Jose de Sucre to free Bolivia from Spanish rule. Sucre's forces defeated the Spaniards in 1825, and Bolivia declared its independence. Sucre became the country's first president.

Unfortunately for Bolivia, the tyranny of the Spaniards was replaced by chaos and violence during the years following independence. Many of Bolivia's leaders showed far more concern for their own political power and wealth than for the needs of the people.

In addition, Bolivia lost more than half of its territory in disputes with neighboring countries. In the Great War of the Pacific (1879-1883), Chile seized Bolivia's nitrate rich land along the Pacific Ocean. Bolivia has been completely landlocked ever since.

In the late 1800's, the world price of silver increased greatly, and large deposits of tin were discovered in Bolivia. The export of these minerals became highly important to Bolivia's economy. Political parties representing the interests of the mine owners grew more and more powerful. They controlled Bolivia until the 1930's and helped the country achieve greater political stability. Bolivia's presidents during this time devoted much effort to promoting mining and the building of railroads.

Between 1936 and 1952, Bolivia had 10 presidents, most of them military leaders whose governments violated the civil rights of the people. The nation's frequent wars and revolutions hampered its economic growth, and today Bolivia has one of the lowest standards of living in the Western Hemisphere. Modern-day Bolivians, descendants of the mighty Inca, can barely eke out a living in their remote mountain world.

Bolivia Today. Although most of Bolivia's people are poor, the land itself is rich in natural resources. The country's mineral deposits, pastureland, timber, and fertile soil have great economic potential, but the nation's political problems have held back its industrial growth, and Bolivia's natural resources remain underdeveloped.

La Paz, above, the highest capital city in the world, lies in a valley in the Altiplano region. Modern high-rise buildings dominate the central business district of the city, while the huts of the poor sprawl along the valley's slopes.

Since gaining independence from Spain in 1825, the country has had 16 constitutions. Bolivia has also experienced scores of successful and unsuccessful attempts to over- throw its government. Until the 1950's, Bolivia's people had little political freedom and almost no possibility of social advancement.

Bolivia lies south of the equator near the center of South America. Despite its wealth of natural resources, Bolivia's economic progress has been hampered by political instability and a poor transportation system.

Revolution and reform. When the world price of silver shot up in the late 1800's, profits from Bolivia's silver mines helped boost the economy. During the same period, large deposits of tin were discovered. Political parties representing the mine owners came to power and managed to maintain political stability until the Chaco War broke out in 1932.

The Chaco War erupted between Bolivia and Paraguay over ownership of the Gran Chaco, a lowland plain bordering both countries. Bolivia lost the war in 1935, and Paraguay won the Gran Chaco. Tremendous political disorder followed this defeat. During this period, tin miners formed unions and went out on strike for better wages and working conditions.

In 1952, the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (National Revolutionary Movement), a political party supported by the tin miners, overthrew the military government then in power. Victor Paz Estenssoro, an economist and party leader, became president. The new government nationalized the tin mines and introduced land reforms, breaking up the vast estates of the landowners and dividing them among poor Indian farmers. But perhaps most important, all adult Bolivians gained the right to vote, marking the first time the Indian population was included in the political system.

Members of Bolivia's labor unions carry brightly colored banners through La Paz on National Day, held every year in August.

Return to military government. The period of reform came to an end when military dictators regained control of the government. From 1964 to 1982, one violent coup succeeded another. The dictators prohibited any opposition to their policies and imprisoned or killed their enemies. In 1967, Che Guevara, a revolutionary famous for his activities in Cuba, tried to organize a revolt against military rule, but he was captured and executed.

In 1980, Bolivia held an election for a civilian government, but military leaders once again seized power before the elected government could take office. Then, in 1982, the military relaxed its grip and allowed a return to civilian government. The Congress elected in 1980 chose Siles Zuazo as president. He had been president 22 years earlier and had been elected by the people in 1980.

In the 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997 presidential elections, no candidate got a majority of the popular vote. Therefore, Congress chose the president following each election. Bolivia's economy continued to suffer inflation, while floods and droughts created food shortages.