A Country Full Of History

History buffs from all over the world will be delighted by the number of historical sites in Bolivia. For over 2000 years, the landlocked country has been constantly occupied, resulting in numerous trials and tribulations. Conquests, wars, revolutions, and protests dominate history textbooks, with numerous churches, museums, landmarks, and ruins attesting to the Plurinational State's ongoing struggle for independence and justice.

Bolivia has traditionally been considered a highland country. Although the Andes Mountains cover only one-third of the country's land area, they are home to the majority of its major cities, and for centuries the highlands have attracted the majority of the country's mining, commercial, and business investment. However, as the eastern lowlands, particularly the department of Santa Cruz, developed rapidly in the late twentieth century, the demographic and economic landscape began to change.

The country has a long and illustrious history. It was once the center of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire, and it was a part of the Inca empire from the 15th to the early 16th centuries. Bolivia was subsumed within the Viceroyalty of Peru after the arrival of the conquistadores, and it provided Spain with enormous wealth in silver.