By Tim Lambert
Early Chile
12,000 BC Human beings arrive in Chile
2,500 BC Farming begins in northern Chile
15th Century AD The Incas conquer northern Chile
1533 The Spanish conquer the Inca Empire
1540 Santiago is founded
1700 The population of Chile is about 100,000
1800 The population of Chile reaches about 500,000
1810 After the king of Spain is deposed the leading citizens of Chile elect a junta
1814 A Royalist army occupies Santiago
1817 The Royalists are defeated at Chabuco
1818 Chile becomes independent
1829 The Conservatives take power
1833 A new constitution is introduced in Chile
1873 Chile enters a recession
1879 Chile enters a war with Peru and Bolivia
1881 Chilean troops enter Lima the capital of Peru
1883 The war with Peru ends with the Treaty of Ancon
1884 The war with Bolivia ends
1890 Congress fights with the president of Chile
Modern Chile
1925 A new constitution is drawn up for Chile
1932 Arturo Alessandri becomes president again
1964 Eduardo Frei is elected president of Chile. He introduces reforms.
1970 The Socialist Salvador Allende is elected president of Chile
1973 The army led by Augusto Pinochet leads a coup. Pinochet introduces a repressive regime.
1980 Pinochet introduces a new constitution
1989 After elections Patricio Aylwin becomes president of Chile
2010 Sebastian Pinera is elected president
