Early History

Uruguay's original populations consisted of the Charrúa Indians. They were a group of huntergatherers and, according to most historical accounts, they disliked outsiders. In 1516, when Spaniards first stepped foot into Uruguay, the Charrúa Indians killed Spanish explorer Juan Díaz de Solís and most of his party. Later, in the seventeenth century, the Charrúas became somewhat more friendly and set up trade with the Spanish explorers.

By the latter part of the seventeenth century, a settlement called Colonia was established by the Portuguese at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. The Spanish, who did not approve of this settlement, built a citadel in Montevideo and later fought the Portuguese and won and then exiled José Artigas, an early Uruguayan hero. In 1828, the Uruguayans, inspired by Artigas, rose up against the Spanish and claimed Uruguay...