I checked again my source (English guidebook by Footprint), and compared with a French book. It tends to make things unclear... to avoid any problems between communities here on SP, I took off the reason why the war started in the description.
From what I understood by comparing, there was a border dispute between Chile and Bolivia, after the Spaniards withdrew. Chile invaded the Antofagasta region, which was part of Bolivia at the time, because they felt threatened. Peru supported Bolivia, therefore Chile carried on up North and invaded Southern Peru as well (and even managed to reach Lima).
They gave back the Tacna region to Peru in 1929, but never gave back the Antofasta region to Bolivia... most likely because of the presence of mines.
Chilean-British were already extracting minerals when this was Bolivia. But were even happier when it became Chilean.
That's history. It is probably more complicated than what books say. I love Chile and the Chileans (I travelled for 50 days there), as much as I love Bolivia and the Bolivians (I travelled for a month there). People living today in these two countries are not responsible for what happened 120 years ago. And I'm no one to judge what opposes them. Peace & unity !
Thanks for your input and for giving me some perspective.
Yeah, like I said, I am not sure myself, and never will be, as all we have are (probably biased) history and not always well-researched guide books.
I travelled/lived in Chile for 12 months, but a good deal in Bolivia too.
I agree, a war from 120 yrs ago should not be made a topic today, unfortunately the tendency in Bolivia is just to do so and to blame a lot of their misery on this issue - instead of thinking about how their own governments screwed it up over and over again. For many, Chileans are enemies and the scapegoat.
Therefore it is a sensitive issue, and not history at all (yet). Hopefully it will be someday, cause all these ages-old conflicts drag down the entire continent for nothing.
I travelled there a lot between school and university (and while university, too) and made Santiago my base. Was my home away from home for a long time. It has been a while since I was there though, I cannot travel as much anymore and got "caught" by other regions of the world now.
Andino - Sep 21, 2007 4:29 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Well done!Thanks a lot !
Andino - Sep 21, 2007 5:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: War of the PacificI checked again my source (English guidebook by Footprint), and compared with a French book. It tends to make things unclear... to avoid any problems between communities here on SP, I took off the reason why the war started in the description.
From what I understood by comparing, there was a border dispute between Chile and Bolivia, after the Spaniards withdrew. Chile invaded the Antofagasta region, which was part of Bolivia at the time, because they felt threatened. Peru supported Bolivia, therefore Chile carried on up North and invaded Southern Peru as well (and even managed to reach Lima).
They gave back the Tacna region to Peru in 1929, but never gave back the Antofasta region to Bolivia... most likely because of the presence of mines.
Chilean-British were already extracting minerals when this was Bolivia. But were even happier when it became Chilean.
That's history. It is probably more complicated than what books say. I love Chile and the Chileans (I travelled for 50 days there), as much as I love Bolivia and the Bolivians (I travelled for a month there). People living today in these two countries are not responsible for what happened 120 years ago. And I'm no one to judge what opposes them. Peace & unity !
Thanks for your input and for giving me some perspective.
Ski Mountaineer - Sep 21, 2007 7:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: War of the PacificYeah, like I said, I am not sure myself, and never will be, as all we have are (probably biased) history and not always well-researched guide books.
I travelled/lived in Chile for 12 months, but a good deal in Bolivia too.
I agree, a war from 120 yrs ago should not be made a topic today, unfortunately the tendency in Bolivia is just to do so and to blame a lot of their misery on this issue - instead of thinking about how their own governments screwed it up over and over again. For many, Chileans are enemies and the scapegoat.
Therefore it is a sensitive issue, and not history at all (yet). Hopefully it will be someday, cause all these ages-old conflicts drag down the entire continent for nothing.
Andino - Sep 22, 2007 4:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: War of the PacificHow was it to live in Chile for 12 months ? Work, studies ?
Ski Mountaineer - Sep 23, 2007 12:21 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: War of the PacificI travelled there a lot between school and university (and while university, too) and made Santiago my base. Was my home away from home for a long time. It has been a while since I was there though, I cannot travel as much anymore and got "caught" by other regions of the world now.
Andinistaloco - Sep 25, 2007 12:24 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice!Impressive amount of work you've put into this. Well done.
Andino - Sep 25, 2007 3:12 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice!Thanks a lot for the kind comment !!
I spent a few ones indeed to complete that page.
schmid_th - Oct 16, 2007 3:46 am - Voted 10/10
Thanks!Very good side! Makes me dreaming! Cheers, Thomas
Andino - Oct 16, 2007 4:20 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Thanks!Bitte schön ;o)