There is little archaeological evidence of pre-Hispanic civilizations in Ecuador. Indigenous cultures Chorrera, Jama coaque, Bahía, Tolita, Machalilla and Valdivia flourished between 12,000 B.C to 1,500 AD.
The first organized and permanent settlements were established in the territory of Ecuador, about six thousand years ago, (4000-600 B.C). The formative period of Chorrera culture is 1500 - 500 B.C, they were established in the Andes and coastal areas. Their technical characteristics are reflected on the artistic styles particularly in ceramics (domestic and ceremonial pottery). This culture was preceded by the Machalilla culture which formative period is 1800- 800 B.C being located primarily on the coast and lowlands of today's Ecuador. The Valdivia culture (3500 - 1500 B.C) gave a great importance to fertility, women figures with children, and pregnant women. They used their villages as ceremonial places for the community (ceremonial purposes).
La Tolita, Jama-coaque and Bahia cultures from the coast have their origins in local chorrera features. Their high social position and wealth were reflected by the plastic representation of individuals that were covered with profusely adorned ceremonial attire. They used shells and cacao beans, with gold and other precious metals. In Bahia cultures the principal commercial activities took place in the Pacific shores. In the Island of La Plata, the most important worship center was built, being the principal area the Spondylus shell. La Tolita built their ceremonial center in an Island where important rivers from the Andes flow into the sea. La Tolita was associated with navigation and trade.
There are some archaeological sites found in the province of Manabí, Esmeraldas, Guayas in the coast; and Carchi, Azuay, Loja, in the Highlands. These sites were established in the last 2,000 years.
Before the Inca Empire conquered Ecuador, this region was populated by a number of distinct tribes: The coastal lowlands, were occupied by Indian groups such as the Esmeralda, the Manta, the Huancavilca, and the Puna from north to south. These groups were farmers, fishermen, traders, and hunters. The Highlands were occupied by the Pasto, the Cara, the Panzaleo, the Puruhá. The Cañari and the Palta cultures, they lived in villages located in Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Oriental of the Andes.They were sedentary people, mainly farmers cultivating quinua, beans, potatoes and maize.
Around 1450 the Incas arrived to Ecuador. The conquest of Ecuador began in 1463 under the leadership of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (the ninth Inca). Farming was the major form of subsistence: yuca, sweet potatoes, coca and peanuts were introduced by the Inca. Most of the land was held collectively by an agrarian community group and with the ayllu, they had to grow food for their necessities in a small plot of arable land. The Inca Huayna Capac had consolidated the conquest of the territory of Ecuador by the early 1500s and he made this territory a secondary capital of the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu).
In 1526 the first Europeans (Spaniards) reached the coastal region, while the high Andean area was still inhabited by Indian tribes; the Inca Empire had extended over the highland region to an area near Quito.
In 1532 Francisco Pizarro reached the country and the Inca Empire was demolished after the Inca leader Atahualpa was ambushed and executed. The first Spanish settlement in Ecuador was established in 1534 in Quito. The Spanish colonists were established and became the new ruling elite of Ecuador, after the Inca Empire was defeated in 1534.
Until 1740 Ecuador was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru (the colony was ruled from Lima), then it was transferred to the Viceroyalty of New Granada. There were several attempts to liberate Ecuador from Spanish rule. The first self-governing junta to Spanish colonies was established in Quito on August 10,1809. In 1822 Ecuador gained Independence as part of the Federation of Gran Colombia, by Simon Bolivar.
By the end of the nineteenth and first quarter of the twentieth century the economic development associated with the cocoa boom, helped to improve and stabilize the administration of the country. Quito was chosen as the capital of Ecuador and the official religion of the state was the Catholicism. The economy of Ecuador received a boost after world war II, due to Banana exports. Foreign companies developed oil resources in the Amazon region of Ecuador, in the 1960s.
When tourists travel to Ecuador, they can visit very interesting museums and learn more about the History of Ecuador.
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