During his administration Bolivia enjoyed the most glorious period of her history with great social and economic advancement.
During this period, Bolivia became embroiled in several debilitating regional conflicts, which resulted in the loss of over half of its territory.
Bolivia is one of only three countries in Latin America whose largest population segment is comprised of Amerindians—the other two being Guatemala and Peru.
Bolivians historically suffer from being unable to keep what they produce, either because they were enslaved or their government overtaxed them.
By the end of the twentieth century, inflation had been brought under control, the economy was growing faster than the regional average, and the Bolivian peso, renamed the boliviano, was stabilized.
Many indigenous Bolivians today still seek to “pass” as mixed blood mestizos, whose social status is regarded as somewhat higher.
Bolivia’s vast mineral wealth has been its curse as well as its blessing.
Under Bolivia's constitution, he could not serve more than one term at a time.
The Inca Indians of Peru defeated the Aymara during the fifteenth century and made Bolivia part of their huge empire.
Bolivia began to implement an association agreement with Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) in March 1997.
Bolivia has the second-largest reserves of natural gas in South America, but the 2004 referendum which partly re-nationalized Bolivia's hydrocarbon industries, created chaos in the industry.
More than 3 percent of Bolivians practice the Baha'н faith, giving Bolivia one of the largest percentages of Baha'н practitioners in the world.
In Bolivia, about half of the people speak Spanish as their first language, although Aymara and Quechua are also common.
Before the revolution of 1952, native Bolivians were not permitted even to enter the principal plaza of La Paz, which contains the presidential palace and the congress.
By the late fourteenth century, a warlike tribe called the Aymara controlled much of western Bolivia.
Bolivia is the second-poorest economy in South America (after Paraguay) and the 5th-poorest in Latin America in terms of GDP per capita.
During the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1983), Bolivia lost its seacoast, and the adjoining rich nitrate fields, together with the port of Antofagasta, to Chile.
In 1829, Andres Santa Cruz, one of Bolivar's generals, became Bolivia's first president.
During most of the Spanish colonial period, Bolivia was a territory called "Upper Peru" or "Charcas" and was under the authority of the Viceroy of Lima.
Bolivia was defeated in 1935 and eventually gave up most of the disputed land.
Bolivian culture has many Inca, Aymara, and other indigenous influences in religion, music, and clothing, depending upon the region of the country, isolation of the cultures, and contact with European (Spanish) culture.
After a month of mourning, the 50 year old Santa Anna married 15 year old Marнa Dolores de Tosta and fathered several more children by her.
Bolivian silver mines produced much of the Spanish empire's wealth, and Potosн, site of the famed Cerro Rico ("Rich Hill") was, for many years, the largest city in the Western Hemisphere.
The tragedy is that this wealth was created upon the blood, sweat, and tears of Bolivia’s Indians.
Bolivia's major exports to the United States are tin, gold, jewelry, and wood products.
Bolivia claimed its independence in 1809 as Spain was losing its power in the world.
In 2002, the United States exported $283 million of merchandise to Bolivia and imported $162 million.
From Paz’s ouster in 1964 through the 1970s, control of the Bolivian government changed hands repeatedly, mostly after revolts by rival military officers.
Congress rejected his resignation, and Mesa, who remained popular with many Bolivians, attempted to rally his supporters.
The Republic of Bolivia (or Bulibiya in the Quechua language; Wuliwya in Aymara) is a landlocked country in central South America.
An increase in the world price of silver brought Bolivia a measure of relative prosperity and political stability in the late 1800s.
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is located on the border between Bolivia and Peru.
Morales pledged to nationalize hydrocarbons and alleviate poverty and discrimination towards indigenous Bolivians.
Bolivia is a member of the Andean Community and enjoys nominally free trade with other member countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela).
After silver was discovered in the mountains near Potosi in 1545, Spaniards poured into Bolivia by the thousands, building a mineral-based economy that persists to this day.
The cultural development of present-day Bolivia is divided into three distinct periods: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican.
In Bolivia, the Andes Mountains divide into two ranges, the Eastern and Western Cordilleras, with a high plateau in the center.
Spain built its empire in great part upon the silver that was extracted from Bolivia's mines.
The great majority of Bolivians are Roman Catholic (the official religion), although Protestant denominations are expanding strongly.
Today Bolivia is a landlocked nation, having lost its outlet to the sea following a disastrous war with Chile in 1883.
The policy produced a sudden and dramatic four-year decline in Bolivia's illegal coca crop to the point that Bolivia became a relatively small supplier of coca for cocaine.
In 1932, Bolivia and Paraguay fought over ownership of the Gran Chaco, a large lowland plain bordering the two countries thought to be rich in oil.
At the outset of his government, President Banzer launched a policy of using special police units to physically eradicate Bolivia's illegal coca.
Morales was highly critical of the "neo-liberal" economic policies that have been implemented in Bolivia over the past several decades.
Bolivia was part of the Inca Empire, and today 60 percent of its people are of unmixed native ancestry and directly descended from the Aymaras and the Incas.
Bolivia's trade with neighboring countries is growing, in part because of several regional preferential trade agreements it has negotiated.
The U.S.-led "Plan Dignidad" (dignity plan), which seeks to reduce coca production to zero, is seen by many Bolivians as an attack on their livelihoods and way of life.
Bolivia has suffered negative economic growth as it has fought to divide profits from its natural resources through various political schemes, rather than increase production of goods.
Bolivia definition. Republic in western South America, bordered by Chile and Peru to the west, Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, and Argentina to the south. Sucre is its constitutional capital and its largest city; La Paz is its administrative capital.
During most of the Spanish colonial rule, Bolivia was known as Upper Peru and administered by the Royal Audiencia of Charcas. After the first call for independence in 1809, 16 years of war followed before the establishment of the Bolivian Republic, named for the Liberator Simón Bolívar, on August 6, 1825.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia is South America's poorest country. In the countryside, poverty is widespread and deeply entrenched, particularly among the nation's indigenous people, who constitute the majority. About 60 per cent of Bolivians live below the national poverty line.
Bolivia is one of two landlocked South American countries, the other being Paraguay. ... Like in Ecuador and Peru, cuy (guinea pig) is used and eaten as a traditional meat. ... El Penal de San Pedro (Saint Peter's Prison) in La Paz is famous for its walled society.
Sanduíche de Chola (pork sandwich) The chola is a classic sandwich from La Paz. ... Antichucho (skewered beef hearts) ... Silpancho. ... Aji de Fideos (spicy calf tongue) ... Cuñapé (cheesy breads) ... Sonso de yuca. ... Chancho a la Cruz (whole hog, slow-cooked) ... Humintas (baked tamales)More items...
The traditional staples of Bolivian cuisine are corn, potatoes, quinoa and beans. These ingredients have been combined with a number of staples brought by the Spanish, such as rice, wheat, and meat, including beef, pork, and chicken.
El secondito', is the term often used for the main course. Pasta for sale at a market in La Paz. A typical almuerzo – set meal – has two courses, basically centered on Bolivia's staple food of potatoes, corn and rice, which is served with meat or chicken.Apr 25, 2013
National Dish of Bolivia. Salteñas are savory pastries filled with beef, pork, or chicken mixed in a sweet, slightly spicy or very spicy sauce, and sometimes also containing peas, potatoes and other things. They are typically eaten in mid-day (9-11) as a snack.
Clothing of Andean women of indigenous descent includes the pollera (pleated-skirt), the 19th century European bowler hat, and a silky shawl known as a manta. The pollera was originally a simple Spanish dress that colonial authorities forced Spanish people to wear.
2. Semana Santa – Fiesta in Copacabana (March / April) Easter, or Semana Santa (Holy Week) as Bolivians call it, is celebrated throughout the country with elaborate festivals and processions.Apr 7, 2014