Learning About the Mapuches

We have been learning about some of the indigenous peoples of Chile. We are focusing on the Mapuches, but there were and are also the Picunche and Moluche people, too. This morning, with the whole group present, we learned that the Inca empire once attempted to conquer the Mapuches, but were defeated. The Mapuches built a network of forts for defense which came in very handy when the Spanish later attempted to conquer them as well. They too, were defeated. Then the Mapuches and the Spanish lived in relative harmony, side by side for 300 years. There was trade between the groups and each benefited from the relationship. The Mapuches, for example, adopted horseback riding and the raising of sheep and wheat. The Spanish learned metalworking skills from the Mapuches.

In the afternoon, with the older kids, I went on to tell them about the series of treaties between the Mapuches and the Spaniards and how they, little by little, granted more and more power to Spain. Spain conquered the Picunche and Moluche territories and eventually absorbed the Mapuches as well. Next week we will learn about the civil war that divided Chile between independentists and royalists and the Chilean War of Independence which resulted in a free and independent Chile. Today, Chile enjoys one of the highest standards of living in South America and it is one of the most politically stable countries on the continent.

Best Regards,
Doni