Monte Verde is the earliest known human settlement in the Americas, dating to 16,500 BC. The indigenous peoples who inhabited Chile before Europeans discovered the land have generally been categorized into three cultural groups, the northern people, the Mapuche (Araucanian culture) and the Patagonian culture.

The Mapuche were the largest group of the three cultures and were farmers and hunters inhabiting south-central Chile. They currently make up 84% of the indigenous population of Chile and about 9% of Chile’s total population. They remained independent and did not become part of the Chilean state until the 1880’s.

Spanish invaders came in the 1500’s and the area was a Spanish colony from 1540 – 1818 when Chile finally gained its independence. 

For 10 years (from 1963 – 1973) the CIA was engaged in covert operations which led to various regime changes and, ultimately, a CIA sponsored military coup which resulted in the removal of Marxist President Salvatore Allende from power, replacing him with military dictator Augusto Pinochet, who remained in power until 1990.

The Pinochet regime committed numerous human rights violations, disappearing people, persecuting critics and implementing economic policies that increased economic inequality and caused devastation on Chile’s economy until a democratic form of government replaced him in 1990 after free elections were held.

Chile today is one of the most stable South American nations, both socially and economically, and is among the world’s developed nations with a high quality of life. Chile is one of the founding members of the United Nations and a member of the Pacific Alliance.

Much like the United States, Chile has a rich history in agriculture and hunting, as well as independence, fighting against and throwing off the yoke of colonialism. Their democratic form of government has seen its ups and downs, including a descent into authoritarianism under Pinochet where dissidents were persecuted and disappeared and economic inequality devasted their population until the country saw a return to democratic values.