History of Santiago

History of Santiago is a long and eventful one, growing from a small colonial outpost to a major global city. Santiago history begins in the year 1541 with Pedro de Valdivia, a missionary priest and explorer. He founded a strategic location between the two streams of Mapocho River in Chile and named it Santiago de Nueva Extremadura, considering that it was the most far-flung dominion of Spain, the very extreme end of the world. The wonderful climate and the strategic location immediately made it an attraction to settlers from over the land. A few Europeans, Indians and Mestizos were the initial settlers of Santiago.

Early Days in Santiago History
Soon after the foundation of Santiago in 1541, the city was attacked by the indigenous Indian population under the leadership of chief Michimalonco, which resulted in the Arauco War. Part of the city was destroyed as a result of the war. This war is a significant one in Santiago history. However, the Picunche Indians later played an important role in the rebuilding of the city. The other major war that the city witnessed was the Chilean war of Independence that lasted from 1810 to 1814. Popularly known as the Battle of Maipu, this battle resulted in ravages within the city premises, destroying on. a few important landmarks of the city. However, the strategic location of city saved it from large-scale disaster on every occasion.

The History of Santiago in the 19th Century
Santiago grew in importance in the 19th Century. Thousands migrated from northern and southern Chile and the population swelled steadily throughout the century, reaching from 30,000 in the early years of 19th Century to a stupendous 100,000 in the period of a few decades. The economic status of the city received a major boost with the discovery of the nitrate mines in Northern Chile. The very economy of Chile went through a process of large-scale improvement in the 1880s as a result of that. Important government buildings started to grace the city. The streets changed from unpaved dusty tracks to paved and ordered roads in these years. The National Library, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mapocho train station changed the very face of Santiago in these years.

History of Santiago in the 20th Century
The steady rising economic profile of Santiago made it a modern and stylish city from 1930s onwards. The Pinochet regime of the 1980s resulted in a number of air-strikes and military expeditions on the city. Many government buildings continue to bear marks of these attacks, particularly the presidential palace known as the Palacio de la Moneda that is undergoing a process of reconstruction.