The colony faced military threats from hostile indigenous peoples. Left to their own devices by the Spanish, the colonists had to defend themselves against those threats by raising citizen militias and arming themselves as best they could, and as a result the colony has been described as the most militarized in Latin America. They went into a horrible period of time when the country had isolation and poverty.Argentina became the middleman for most of Paraguay's international trade, and foreigners acquired vast expanses of the nation's land. The Spanish also quickly organized to establish their control over Guarani labor through the encomium system.
August 15, 1537-Spanish adventurers lead by Juan de Salazar y Espinoza, established a fort on the eastern side of the Paraguay River, calling it Nuestra Senora Santa María de la Asunción, because it was the feast day honoring the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
1607- the Jesuits, established missions called reducciones, which were settlements of Guaraní converted to Catholicism. After time, the Jesuits, through the missions, became the strongest power in the colony.
In 1617- the Giant Indias' Province, as the whole territory was known, was divided in two, the River Plate Government having Buenos Aires as capital, and the Paraguay Government, with Asunción as its capital.
In 1721- a political movement known as Comuneros, lead by Jose de Antequera y Castro, was the first attempt to proclaim independence of the viceroyalty of Peru and the Spanish crown, but it failed and their leaders were executed.
In 1750-King Fernando VI of Spain, traded part of the eastern Paraguayan territory including seven reducciones to Portugal, which in turn ceded the Philippines to Spain. The Jesuits and the natives argued against the transfer, and incited a Guaraní revolt against it in 1754. This was known as the Jesuit war.
In 1767 -the Jesuits missionaries were expelled from America by King Carlos II of Spain. The missions were soon deserted as the natives abandoned them, until they were destroyed about 1816.
1607- the Jesuits, established missions called reducciones, which were settlements of Guaraní converted to Catholicism. After time, the Jesuits, through the missions, became the strongest power in the colony.
In 1617- the Giant Indias' Province, as the whole territory was known, was divided in two, the River Plate Government having Buenos Aires as capital, and the Paraguay Government, with Asunción as its capital.
In 1721- a political movement known as Comuneros, lead by Jose de Antequera y Castro, was the first attempt to proclaim independence of the viceroyalty of Peru and the Spanish crown, but it failed and their leaders were executed.
In 1750-King Fernando VI of Spain, traded part of the eastern Paraguayan territory including seven reducciones to Portugal, which in turn ceded the Philippines to Spain. The Jesuits and the natives argued against the transfer, and incited a Guaraní revolt against it in 1754. This was known as the Jesuit war.
In 1767 -the Jesuits missionaries were expelled from America by King Carlos II of Spain. The missions were soon deserted as the natives abandoned them, until they were destroyed about 1816.