Bolivia, a country rich in history and natural beauty, has a long past. Named after independence fighter Simon Bolivar, Bolivia left Spanish rule in 1825. However, Bolivia's history goes much deeper. To understand Bolivia, we must go back in time to its origins. Bolivia traces its roots back around 21,000 years ago, when it was part of the Andean culture of South America. Around 600 BC, the Andean Empire emerged on a high plateau between the Altiplano Mountains. This empire, known as Tiwanakan, was located on the southeastern shore of Lake Titicaca. Tiwanaku was a major commercial and religious center, and its culture extended far beyond what is now Bolivia. The Tiwanaku were not a violent culture. To expand its reach, Tiwanaku relied more on political colonization than conquest. At that time, agriculture was a major source of energy. The elites took control of the population through their control of the surplus food produced by the empire. The growth of the empire continued at a staggering rate until around 950 AD, when a massive drought struck the region. As the drought persisted, surrounding cities began to dry out and the elites began to lose control as their food supplies dwindled. Around 1000 AD, Tiwanaku ceased to exist and the land remained uninhabitable for several centuries. Around 1438, the Inca Empire expanded its reach into what was once Tiwanaku, but its quest for massive expansion would prove too great for them and they would fail. History: Spanish Ruler Francisco Pizarro, Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque ruled the Spanish Empire. discovery and conquest of the Inca Empire (Hudson and Hanratty page 7). After many years of Inca conquest, the empire...... middle of paper ......program. This program essentially alienated the labor movement. He also worked to rebuild the army and introduce educational reforms. His policies were unpopular, however, and Siles Zuazo lost his bid for re-election in 1960. In 1964, the army returned to power and forced Siles Zuazo into exile. Works Cited Hudson, Rex A. and Hanratty, Dennis M., Ed. Bolivia, a country study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. 1989. Print.Info please. "Bolivia". http://www.infoplease.com/country/bolivia.html?pageno=2Nieves, Angelica T. “The indigenous movement and the struggle for political representation in Bolivia”. University of South Florida. January 1, 2012 http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5379&context=etdSparks, Karen - Contributor. Hernán Siles Zuazo. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/544094/Hernan-Siles-Zuazo