Chile's history spans over 13,000 years — from indigenous peoples, Spanish conquest, independence, Pinochet dictatorship, to modern Chile.
Indigenous Peoples (13,000 BC - 1540)
Mapuches in south, Atacamenos and Diaguitas in north, Rapanuis on Easter Island. Mapuches heroically resisted Spanish conquest for 350 years.
Spanish Conquest (1540-1810)
Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago February 12, 1541. Arauco War against Mapuches lasted until 19th c. Part of Viceroyalty of Peru. Captaincy General of Chile since 1541.
Independence (1810-1818)
First National Junta September 18, 1810. Bernardo O'Higgins and Jose de San Martin led struggle. Battle of Chacabuco 1817. Battle of Maipu 1818 sealed independence.
Republic and Modernization (1818-1973)
War of the Pacific 1879-1883 against Bolivia and Peru — Chile won Antofagasta and Tarapaca. Nitrate dominated economy until 1929. Salvador Allende socialist president 1970-1973.
Pinochet Dictatorship (1973-1990)
Military coup September 11, 1973 — Allende suicide. Augusto Pinochet dictator 17 years. 3,000 dead and disappeared. Plebiscite 1988 — Pinochet defeated.
Modern Chile (1990-today)
Democracy restored 1990. Patricio Aylwin first democratic president. Michelle Bachelet 2006-2010, 2014-2018. Sebastian Pinera 2010-2014, 2018-2022. Gabriel Boric since 2022 — youngest president. 19 million inhabitants.