Argentina: A Country Shaped by Colonization, Independence and Crises

Argentina is a South American country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. The first human settlements in Argentina date back to around 13,000 years ago. The first major empire that invaded Argentina was the Inca Empire in the 15th century. The Spanish colonization of Argentina began in 1516 with the expedition of Juan Díaz de Solís to the Río de la Plata.

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Argentina was part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish overseas territory founded in 177. Argentina declared its independence in 1816 after a long fight against Spain and an extended civil war that lasted until 1861. Argentina emerged as a democratic republic in the mid-19th century but has since then periodically fallen under military rule. The first human settlements in Argentina were on the southern tip of Patagonia 13,000 years ago. The first European to land on Argentine soil was Juan Díaz de Solís in 1516. He was killed by the natives and his expedition failed.

The Spanish established a permanent colony in Buenos Aires in 1580 and ruled the country for 300 years. Argentina was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1776, when it became part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, which also included present-day Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and parts of Brazil. Argentina declared its independence in 1816 after a long fight against Spain and an extended civil war that lasted until 1861. The country was divided into several provinces that fought each other for power and territory. Argentina emerged as a democratic republic in the mid-19th century but has since then periodically fallen under military rule.

The country faced political instability, military coups, exiled presidents, territorial disputes and dictatorships over the years. Argentina also experienced economic and social crises, such as the Great Depression, the Dirty War, the Falklands War, the hyperinflation and the 2001 crisis. Argentina is currently a federal constitutional republic with a presidential system of government. The current president is Alberto Fernández, who took office in 2019.