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History of Bolivia is fascinating and intriguing and reflects the rich culture of the land also. The Spaniards discovered rich silver deposits in a mountain and at the foot of this mountain, they founded the settlement of Potosi at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level in 1544. By the end of the sixteenth century, Potosi had a population of 120,000 which made it the largest urban center in South America.

Potosi was preceded by Chuqisaca, which was founded in 1538 and later became the administrative capital of the Spanish colonial rule. There were other Spanish settlements in the History of Bolivia including La Paz (1548), Cochabamba (1574) and Oruro (1604).

Bolivia was known during the period of Spanish rule as Alto Peru or Upper Peru and it was at first a dependency of the Viceroyalty of Peru. It was transferred to the newly formed Viceroyalty of La Plata in 1776. In 1825, independence was declared by an assembly and General Antonio Jose de Sucre, who played an important role in the defeat of the Spanish garrison, was elected as the first president. A constitution was drafted in the following year by Simon Bolivar and was adopted. It was during this time that the country came to be known as Bolivia.

History of Bolivia witnessed a long period of internal strife and instability as the country was ruled by dictators, mainly military. The position of Bolivia's boundaries was uncertain and was a matter of dispute. The frequent changes in the regime reflected in the changes in the constitution. From the time of declaration of independence to the end of the nineteenth century, ten different constitutions were enacted. Bolivia lost a substantial part of its possessions in the eastern lowlands to Brazil in 1904.

In 1952 a revolutionary party (Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario MNR) seized control of the government. The direct consequence was the expropriation of the mines by the state and to agrarian reform and the large estates were divided among former tenants and peasants. The MNR introduced far-reaching economic and social changes before being deposed by the army in 1964. There have been 19 presidents including 13 generals in the History of Bolivia over the following 25 years.

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