Uruguay History Timeline & FactsSouth America - Concise History of the Mesoamerican civilisations Mesoamericans were the ancient civilisations of South America which is now divided into 12 independent countries consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The diverse civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica included the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas and Mayans. The Mayans empire covered Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Click the following link for details of the ancient South American / Mesoamerican Civilisations History Timeline & Facts Concise History and Facts about Uruguay The Arawak and Taino Indians first inhabited Uruguay The Arawaks were tropical forest people who probably originated in South America and were related the people found anywhere from Panama to Brazil The Arawaks were progressively wiped out by the after-effects of the Spanish conquest 1516 Juan Diaz de Solis became the first European to land in Uruguay 1500s Spanish colonists began to arrive in Uruguay 1600s-1700s Spanish and Portuguese settlers colonized Uruguay 1726 Spanish found Montevideo and take over Uruguay from the Portuguese 1776 Spain encompassed all of its territories in south-east South America to create one large colony called the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata 1777 Spanish colonists attacked Colonia to drive out the Portuguese 1810 - Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon 1812-20 - Orientales, or Uruguayans from fight against Argentinian and Brazilian invaders 1800s Jose Gervasio Artigas organized an army to fight for independence from Spain 1811 Artigas laid siege to Montevideo 1814 Montevideo surrendered ending the control of Spain over Uruguay 1816 Portuguese troops attack Uruguayans 1825 A group of Uruguayan patriots revolt against Brazil Argentina supported the patriots in their fight against Brazil 1828 The British intervened in the conflict between Uruguay and Brazil 1828 Uruguay became an independent nation 1830 Uruguay adopted its first constitution and Jose Fructuoso Rivera became the first president 1800s - 1900s Italian immigrants began to settle in Uruguay Uruguay History Time line |