The indigenous Guaraní have been living in Paraguay since at least 1,000 years before the Spanish colonial empire conquered the territory in the 16th century. Jesuits introduced Christianity, and a syncretic form of Catholicism developed that absorbed some indigenous traditions. Jesuit Reductions relocated Indians to local communities near missions. Following independence from Spain in 1811, Paraguay was ruled by a series of dictators who implemented isolationist and protectionist policies. Development was truncated by the disastrous Paraguayan War (1864–1870), in which the country lost 60% to 70% of its population through war and disease, and about 140,000 square kilometers (54,054 sq mi) of territory to Argentina and Brazil.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 04:49:52 +0000
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