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Ecuador's first inhabitants settled along the coast and central highlands. Human presence in Ecuador existed as far back as 20,000 BC, with hunter-gatherer populations living along the Pacific around 10,000 BC. Permanent agrarian cultures established fixed settlements, developed metallurgy and navigation, as well as distinct art and religion, and relied on maritime trade, which reached as far north as Central America.
The Inca arrived in Ecuador in the mid-15th century and imposed their culture. In 1460, Inca ruler Tupac Yupanqui, based in Peru, attacked. The Inca met with resistance from indigenous tribes, and it was several years before the Inca, led by Huayna Capac, defeated them. The Inca introduced their language, Quechua. They also introduced new crops, agriculturual methods.They built cities and a network of roads.
The Spanish fought and defeated the Inca, taking control of Ecuadorian territory. In 1532, Francisco Pizarro and his men came to Ecuador, seeking to conquer the territory. Atahualpa was captured by the Spanish and was held for ransom. He was executed in 1533. Fighting between the Inca and Spanish continued. In 1534, The Inca, led by Rumiñahui, destroyed Quito rather than let it fall to the Spanish. The Spanish capture and killed Rumiñahui, and Quito was refounded. The Spanish based themselves in Lima, Peru, and later, Colombia, governing from Cali, Colombia to Paita, Peru. In 1563, the Spanish named their conquered territory the Audencia de Quito and it was governed by Pizarro's brother.
Human presence in Ecuador existed as far back as 20,000 BC...
The Spanish influence was both positive and negative. The Spanish introduced their language, cattle, crops and Roman Catholicism; architecture became a blend of colonial and indigenous artistic influences. The indigenous people were subjected into a forced labor system, and illnesses brought by the Spanish ravaged the population. African slaves were brought to Ecuador to work on cocoa and sugar plantations in the coastal province of Esmeraldas.
The Spanish were eventually deposed. On May 24,1822, Antonio José de Sucre defeated Spanish royalists on the flanks of Pichincha Volcano, in the Battle of Pichincha. Ecuador briefly joined Simón Bolívar's Gran Colombia with Colombia and Venezuela before achieving complete independence in 1830, when it became the Republic of Ecuador, with Quito as the capital.
Since independence, Ecuador has experienced a great deal of political conflict. Apart from territorial disputes with Peru, Ecuador has been free of international conflict. Politically, Ecuador has been marked by political instability and violence. Ecuador was governed by provisional governments and military juntas throughout the 20th century; democratic rule was restored in 1979. Ecuador's current leader, Rafael Correa, re-elected in 2009, is the 12th president to serve since democratic rule was restored in 1979
