La Chiquitania (Bolivia) (29 images)

The "Chiquito" province represented the first scenery in the East of Bolivia where the encounter between the Spanish conquistadors' culture and the indigenous' one took place; the name "Chiquitos" was first formulated by the Spanish arriving in this region in their search for richness - apparently surprised by the tiny dimensions of the doors Chiquitos used to built to access their traditional houses.
The Chiquitano people - apparently, and comparing with other...
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The "Chiquito" province represented the first scenery in the East of Bolivia where the encounter between the Spanish conquistadors' culture and the indigenous' one took place; the name "Chiquitos" was first formulated by the Spanish arriving in this region in their search for richness - apparently surprised by the tiny dimensions of the doors Chiquitos used to built to access their traditional houses.
The Chiquitano people - apparently, and comparing with other ethnic groups - have little history and culture; yet, this is not true. They are people indeed with rich history and customs, today in a delicate equilibrium between tradition and modernity. Today the territory of Chiquitos is a land, a province, 10 missions, an ethnic group, a language, a culture, and an ecosystem.
In this hot and humid region of the eastern Bolivia, between 1691 and 1767, 10 Jesuitical missions where established, giving rise to a unique experience, which lasted 75 years, and whose overall cultural heritage is well alive today. The Jesuits started their experience in Paraguay and Argentina, in 1609, and it lasted until 1767, date of their final expulsion by the Spanish from the whole South American region.
The indigenous living in the so-called Chiquitano region encompassed, back then, over 50 different ethnic groups, divided between nomads and sedentary; they lives of fishing and hunting, did not know iron (until Spanish's arrival in this region, in 1534), and slept on hammocks, still widely used today, efficiently protecting them from animals and insects.
Before the "spiritual conquest" Chiquitanos worshipped just few deities, the Sun, the Moon as well as other spirits linked with the natural world: the Jesuits regretted their "poor" religious beliefs. Hence, the "need" to evangelize them, in line with the overall spirit of the conquest which, besides the search of silver and gold, put major emphasis on the Evangelic announcement.
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