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==Overview== The history of Paraguay was based in the development of varying cultures of indigenous peoples over more than ten thousand years. The eastern part of present-day Paraguay was occupied by Guaraní peoples for at least 1,000 years before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Evidence indicates that these indigenous Americans developed a fairly sophisticated semi-nomadic culture characterized by numerous tribes, divided by language, who each occupied several independent multi-village communities. There has been little archeological research so more detailed information about pre-Columbian cultures is dependent on such studies. William E. Barrett wrote: "Paraguay is the country of prophecy. One of the two smallest nations (of 1952 ) on the American continent, it was the first American communistic state, the first American nation to be governed by an absolute dictator (in the modern sense of the term)."〔William E. Barrett (1952), ''Woman on Horseback: The Story of Francisco Lopez and Elisa Lynch'', revised edition, reprint, n.d., New York: Curtis Books, "Foreword", p. 5.〕 The first Spaniards settled in the territory in the 16th century as part of colonial expeditions. They were predominantly young men, as few women followed them to the region, which was considered undeveloped. Following the Spanish conquest and colonization, the Europeans intermarried with native peoples, resulting in a large mixed (mestizo) population. The descendants generally spoke the languages of their indigenous mothers but Spanish culture was also important. A mixed culture has developed, also influenced by the Jesuit Reductions, settlements which taught Catholicism and Spanish culture. . Paraguay's colonial history was one of general calm punctuated by turbulent political events; the country's economy at the time made it unimportant to the Spanish crown, and the distance of its capital from other new cities on the South American continent led to isolation. In 1811 Paraguay declared its independence from Spain. Since then, the country has had a history of dictatorial governments, from the Utopian regime of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (El Supremo) to the suicidal reign of Francisco Solano López, who nearly destroyed the country in warfare against the combined forces of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay from 1865 through 1870. The so-called Paraguayan War ended with massive population losses in Paraguay, and forced cessions of extensive territory to Argentina and Brazil. The nation that survived gradually formed the two-party (Colorado vs. Liberal) political system that persists until the present day. Following political turmoil during the first three decades of the 20th century, Paraguay went to war with Bolivia trying to regain control of the Chaco region. From 1932 to 1935, approximately 30,000 Paraguayans and 65,000 Bolivians died in the fighting. The rule of a series of dictators stifled initiative and creativity. From 1870 to 1954, Paraguay was ruled by 44 different men, 24 of whom were forced from office in military coups. In 1954, General Alfredo Stroessner took advantage of the strong link between the armed forces and the Colorado Party to overthrow the government; he ruled until 1989. Although there is little ethnic strife in Paraguay to impede social and economic progress, there is social conflict caused by underemployment and the enormous gap between the rich and the poor, who are mostly rural. Positive steps to correct these inequities have occurred since the 1989 ousting of the last dictator, and the occupation by the poor of hundreds of thousands of acres of land, which they claimed for subsistence farming. country's political system is moving toward a fully functioning republic. However, the tradition of hierarchical organizational structures and generous rewarding of political favors prevails. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of Paraguay」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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