Argentina's history spans over 12,000 years — from indigenous peoples, Spanish conquest, independence, mass immigration, Peronism, military dictatorship, to modern Argentina.
Indigenous Peoples (12,000 BC - 1516)
Diaguita, Mapuche, Guarani, Tehuelche inhabited Argentina. Inca Empire reached northwest 15th c. Spanish conquest by Juan Diaz de Solis 1516 — killed by Charruas.
Spanish Colonization (1536-1810)
Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires 1536 — abandoned from hunger. Refounded by Juan de Garay 1580. Part of Viceroyalty of Peru, then Rio de la Plata 1776 (Buenos Aires capital).
Independence (1810-1816)
May Revolution May 25, 1810 — defeat of viceroy. Declaration of Independence July 9, 1816 in Tucuman. Jose de San Martin liberated Chile and Peru by crossing Andes.
Mass Immigration (1880-1930)
6 million European immigrants (Italians, Spanish, Poles, Jews, Germans) arrived Argentina 1880-1930. Argentina became one of 10 richest countries in the world.
Peronism and Dictatorship (1946-1983)
Juan Domingo Peron president 1946-1955 — populism, labor rights. Eva Peron (Evita) — iconic figure. Military dictatorship 1976-1983 — 30,000 disappeared. Falklands War 1982 — defeat.
Modern Argentina (1983-today)
Democracy restored 1983. Economic crisis 2001 — corralito. Nestor and Cristina Kirchner 2003-2015. Mauricio Macri 2015-2019. Alberto Fernandez 2019-2023. Javier Milei since 2023 — anarcho-capitalist. Messi wins World Cup 2022.