ECUADOR
ECUADOR
ECUADOR
ECUADOR
Home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world
Ecuador, located in the northwestern part of South America, born from a rich cultural and historical heritage. The ancient country has experienced an Inca conquest, a Spanish conquest, and a fight for independence, standing strong now as a thriving free country. Better yet, Ecuador is home to stunning nature and breathtaking wildlife. From the country’s three climate regions to the tropical Galápagos Islands off its coast, the land features one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. The strong link between terrestrial and marine life just adds to the beautiful, unforgettable wonders of Ecuador.
beginning
Civilization in Ecuador began many millennia ago. Some of the earliest evidence of civilization is in the form of pottery that dates back to around 3000-2500 BCE. By the 1400s, the region was divided into warring chiefdoms. In 1463, the Inca conquest began, led by Topa Inca Yupanqui and continued on by his successor, Huayna Capac. The Inca spread Quichua, a dialect of Quechua, and forced people who didn’t support the conquest to migrate. When Huayna Capac died suddenly of smallpox, each of his two sons Atahualpa and Huascar inherited half of the kingdom. A civil war for territory ensued, and Atahualpa emerged victorious in 1532. Around the same time, Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro invaded the kingdom, executing Atahualpa the next year while finally conquering the area of Ecuador in 1534. However, many Ecuadorians fought against conquest, and many still held allegiance to pre-Inca chiefdoms.
independence
In 1809, Ecuador’s middle class fought for independence. This rebellion culminated in 1822, when Antonio Jose de Sucre defeated the Spanish at the battle of Pichincha. As a result, an independent group of countries called Gran Colombia formed, which included Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. In 1830, Ecuador left Gran Colombia to become a fully independent country. Later, Ecuador and Peru experienced a territorial dispute, beginning in 1941 when Peru invaded a mineral-rich area of the Ecuadorian Amazon called El Oro and ending with a short border war with Peru in 1981. After this, Ecuador experienced economic deterioration due to dropping oil prices. This led to strikes and a state of emergency, followed by many sudden presidential changes from 1996 to 2006.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Ecuador’s history has influenced the demographics of the country. Mestizos – people of indigenous and European descent – take up the biggest part of Ecuador’s population. This group can connect back to people of the pre-Inca, Inca, along with the Spanish civilizations that have mixed throughout Ecuador’s history. In 1992, Indigenous peoples were given ownership of 2.5 million acres in Amazonia because of their relationship with the land. Ecuador is also home to one of the region’s largest refugee populations, fueled especially by Colombia and the fact that in 2008, Ecuador lifted its visa requirements for immigration. Through an Inca conquest, a Spanish conquest, and independence, Ecuador has been shaped by its rich history and the people of its ancient land.
