10000 – 8000 BCE Humans begin to arrive in what is now Bolivia.
200BCE – 1200 CE The Tiwanaku Culture flourishes near Lake Titicaca.
There is a large archeological site found in the South Shore of lake Titicaca that is thought to be (most recently) a metropolis, the central city of this civilization. The Tinawaku were the innovative in their agricultural systems. They were the creators of raised field systems separated by small ditches, or canals that would keep water running even through the winter months. (2)
1200 – 1438 Aymara kingdoms dominate the Bolivian central highlands.
1460 – 1532 The Incas rule the central highlands of Bolivia.
1532 The Spanish arrive and conquer the Incas.
1543 The Spanish establish the Viceroyalty of Peru, which includes Bolivia.
1544 Silver is discovered near present day Potosi.
To read the extraordinary tale of a visitor to these mines believe it or not still in use today go HERE.
1781 Tupac Katari and Bartolina Sisa lead indigenous rebellion.
1825 Bolivia becomes independent with Simon Bolivar as its first president. The country receives its name Bolivia in his honor.
1879 – 1883 Pacific War with Chile. Bolivia loses its coast to Chile.
1899 – 1903 Arce War with Brazil. Bolivia loses more territories.
1920 Bolivia loses de Chaco region to Paraguay in the Chaco war.
1952 Revolution by peasants and miners. The MNR (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement), led by Victor Paz Estenssoro, takes power.
1964 Military Coup by Rene Barrietos.
1979 Lydia Gueiler Tejada becomes Bolivia’s first female president.
1980 General Luis Garcia Meza seizes power in a military coup.
1989 Jaime Paz Zamora becomes president in coalition with longtime enemy Hugo Banzer Suarez.
1993 Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada becomes president
2000 The Water War erupts over increased water taxes.
2005 Evo Morales is elected as the nation’s first indigenous president, he nationalizes the gas industry.
2006 Land reform bill is narrowly approved by the Senate. The bill aims to expropriate up to one fifth of Bolivian land for redistribution to the landless poor.
2008 Anti-government protests escalate into violence in the east and north of Bolivia. The government and opposition agree to talks in an effort to resolve the crisis.
Bolivia expels the US ambassador, accusing him of fomenting civil unrest. Washington reciprocates by expelling the Bolivian ambassador.
2009 Morales enacts a new constitution, giving indigenous people more rights.
2011 Plans to build a major road through a rainforest reserve – a project the government says is essential for development – spark mass protests.
2013 Bolivia passes a law paving the way for President Morales to be seek a third term. The constitution states that presidents can only serve two terms, but the supreme court ruled that, because the constitution was changed during Mr Morales’ first four years, that term did not count. Opposition politicians denounce the law as unconstitutional.
President Morales expels the US Agency for International Development (USAID), accusing it of trying to “conspire against Bolivia”. (4)
2014 Evo Morales wins a third term as president.
2017 A five-person Truth Commission is sworn in, charged with investigating human rights violations during almost twenty years of military rule.
2019 President Morales resigns in wake of street protests after his bid to win a controversial presidential election.
2020 A former colleague of Mr Morales, Luis Arce, wins the presidential election after a year of rule by conservative politicians.
Sources:
(1) Cultures of the World. Bolivia. By Pateman Robert, Marcus Cramer and Debbie Nevins. Third Edition 2017. Cavendish Square Publishing INC.
(2) Encyclopedia Britannica
(3) Bolivia. Enchant of the World. Second Series. By Nel Yomtov. 2019. Scholastic. Children’s Press.
(4) BBC.com
My Virtual World Trip 