17th and 18th centuries History of South America

in 1616, dutch, attracted legend of el dorado, founded fort in guayana , established 3 colonies: demerara, berbice, , essequibo.

in 1624 france attempted settle in area of modern-day french guiana, forced abandon in face of hostility portuguese, viewed violation of treaty of tordesillas. french settlers returned in 1630 , in 1643 managed establish settlement @ cayenne along small-scale plantations.

since sixteenth century there movements of discontent spanish , portuguese colonial system. among these movements, famous being of maroons, slaves escaped masters , in shelter of forest communities organized free communities. attempts subject them royal army unsuccessful, because maroons had learned master south american jungles. in royal decree of 1713, king gave legality first free population of continent: palenque de san basilio in colombia today, led benkos bioho. brazil saw formation of genuine african kingdom on soil, quilombo of palmares.

between 1721 , 1735, revolt of comuneros of paraguay arose, because of clashes between paraguayan settlers , jesuits, ran large , prosperous jesuit reductions , controlled large number of christianized indians.

between 1742 , 1756, insurrection of juan santos atahualpa in central jungle of peru. in 1780, viceroyalty of peru met insurrection of curaca condorcanqui or tupac amaru ii, continued tupac catari in upper peru.

in 1763, african cuffy led revolt in guyana bloodily suppressed dutch. in 1781, revolt of comuneros (new granada), insurrection of villagers in viceroyalty of new granada, popular revolution united indigenous people , mestizos. villagers tried colonial power , despite capitulation signed, viceroy manuel antonio flores did not comply, , instead ran main leaders josé antonio galán. in 1796, essequibo (colony) of dutch taken british, had begun massive introduction of slaves.

during eighteenth century, figure of priest, mathematician , botanist josé celestino mutis (1732–1808), delegated viceroy antonio caballero y gongora conduct inventory of nature of nueva granada, became known botanical expedition, classified plants, wildlife , founded first astronomical observatory in city of santa fé de bogotá.

on august 15, 1801, prussian scientist alexander von humboldt reached fontibón mutis, , began expedition new granada, quito. meeting between 2 scholars considered brightest spot of botanical expedition. humboldt visited venezuela, mexico, united states, chile, , peru. through observations of temperature differences between pacific ocean between chile , peru in different periods of year, discovered cold currents moving south north coast of peru, named humboldt current in honour.

between 1806 , 1807, british military forces tried invade area of rio de la plata, @ command of home riggs popham , william carr beresford, , john whitelocke. invasions repelled, powerfully affected spanish authority.