By Tim Lambert
Early Ecuador
1526 The Spanish first sight the coast of Ecuador
1534 The Spanish conquer Ecuador. The Spanish found Quito.
1545 The bishopric of Quito is founded
1557 The Spanish found Cuenca
1717 Ecuador becomes part of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada
1820 The people of Ecuador rebel against Spain
1822 Ecuador wins its independence as part of the nation of Gran Colombia
1830 Ecuador withdraws from Gran Colombia
1851 Slavery is banned in Ecuador
1861 Gabriel Garcia Moreno becomes president of Ecuador
1875 Moreno is assassinated
1875 General Ignacio de Veintimilla becomes ruler of Ecuador
1884 Constitutional Government is restored in Ecuador
1895 An army coup brings Eloy Alfaro to power
Modern Ecuador
1925 Conservative officers overthrow the regime
1942 Ecuador is forced to surrender some of its territories to Peru
1963 A period of military rule begins in Ecuador
1967 Oil is discovered in Ecuador
1979 Democracy is restored in Ecuador
2006 Rafael Correa is elected president
2008 Ecuador adopts a new constitution
