FAQ · History 28

Prehistory in the territory of Argentina started with the first human settlements. These early inhabitants arrived at the southern tip of Patagonia around 13,000 years ago. This era is considered the pre-Columbian or early history of the region. It lasted until the sixteenth century when written history began. The arrival of Spanish chroniclers marked a major transition for the area.

The oldest rocks in Argentina date back to the Precambrian era. Some rocks in the El Cristo area experienced intense folding more than two billion years ago. Other formations in the Tandilia Range underwent metamorphosis approximately 1.8 billion years ago. In the northwest, extremely ancient trace fossils have been discovered within the Puncoviscana Formation. Additionally, large areas of the country were once part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

The Inca arrived as migrants searching for agricultural land rather than as an army. They settled in areas like Acamaca, which later became the site of the Kingdom of Cusco. According to one origin story, Manco Capac and Mama Occlo were brought up from Lake Titicaca by the Sun God to start the Inca dynasty. The rulers of the Kingdom of Cusco were required to perform ritual worship of the Sun God at the Isla del Sol. Additionally, Inca emperors made pilgrimages to the city of Tiwanaku and offered precious objects to the waters of the lake.

During the early years of the colony, the Qhapaq Ñan road system suffered significant abandonment and destruction. This was largely caused by a massive decrease in the native population due to war and illness. The social structure that previously maintained these roads was destroyed, leading to a dramatic change in how the territory was used. New routes were established to connect mines and estates directly to coastal ports for the export of gold and silver to Spain. Consequently, many original routes were abandoned unless they served the new economic needs of the Viceroyalty.

After Argentina became independent in 1810, the era of commerce controlled by a small group of peninsular merchants came to an end. The Primera Junta, the first government established after the May Revolution, initially undertook a protectionist policy. This was later changed by the First Triumvirate, which promoted unrestricted trade with Britain. Subsequent governments like the Second Triumvirate and José Gervasio Artigas sought to restore protectionism, but the Supreme Director returned to free trade. Consequently, the economy of the Río de la Plata became one of the most open economies in the world.

During the 19th century, literature played a key role in attempting to establish a sense of national identity through foundational fictions. These works often explored the dichotomy of civilization or barbarism and the rights of indigenous people. One important genre was the gauchesque, which focused on the lives of gauchos, exemplified by the epic poem Martín Fierro. Literary movements during this era transitioned from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, and later to Realism and Naturalism. By the end of the century, the distinctly Latin American movement known as Modernismo was invented.

During World War I, Argentine governments maintained neutrality to offer agricultural exports to British and U.S. wartime needs. This approach resulted in significant trade surpluses during both World War I and World War II. In 1945, Argentina was pressured to declare war on Germany to avoid isolation after being excluded from a conference in Mexico. Following this declaration, the nation was admitted to the new United Nations. These commercial concerns continued to play a major role in the country's foreign policy decisions.

Argentine governments maintained a policy of neutrality during World War II, similar to their stance during World War I. This approach allowed the nation to offer its vast agricultural export capacity to meet the wartime needs of the United States and Great Britain. As a result, Argentina achieved a trade surplus of US$1.7 billion during the conflict. In early 1945, the United States and other Latin American countries met in Mexico and demanded that Argentina declare war on Germany to avoid isolation. Argentina eventually declared war on March 27, 1945, which allowed it to be admitted to the new United Nations.

After democratization, a strong integration and partnership began between Argentina and Brazil. The two countries signed the basis for the Mercosur regional trade agreement in 1985. They also moved from being rivals in science to signing agreements like the creation of the ABACC to ensure peaceful nuclear energy use. Military rapprochement occurred as well, including the movement of major units away from their common border. Both nations have since coordinated their positions in various multilateral fora and worked together on peacekeeping missions.

The Constitution of the Argentine Nation serves as the supreme law and the primary source of existing law in the country. While the first version was written in 1853, the current version is the reformed text of 1994. The document consists of a preamble and two normative parts covering declarations, rights, guarantees, and the authorities of the nation. Additionally, several international human rights instruments hold constitutional status through specific articles. This framework establishes the legal foundation for the entire country.

Argentine opposition leaders have proposed a resolution to declare the country's neutrality in the war. Left-wing groups like the Workers' Left Front have condemned the alignment of Argentina with Israel and the United States. Meanwhile, the Republican Proposal supports President Milei's stance but warns that unconditional alignment could endanger national security. Some leaders suggest that maintaining ties with the United States is important for economic reasons and debt management. Additionally, there are views that Argentina should remain aligned with the United States to become a safe energy provider during Middle East conflicts.

Argentina is a diverse country where at least 40 languages are spoken. While Spanish is the dominant national language, many Amerindian languages like Guaraní, Mapudungun, and Southern Quechua are spoken by large groups. Immigrant influences are also strong, with many people speaking German, Italian, English, French, or Levantine Arabic. Specific communities include Chinese immigrants in Buenos Aires, an Occitan-speaking community in Pigüé, and Welsh speakers in the Chubut Province. Additionally, the country is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America and the largest Muslim minority in the region.

The anarchist movement grew rapidly in Argentina during the early 1900s. In 1901, the Argentine Workers' Federation was founded and later became the Argentine Regional Workers' Federation in 1904. This organization formalized its adherence to anarchism in 1905, aiming to teach workers the principles of anarchocommunism. Many working-class males were disenfranchised because they were not native Argentines, making anarchism an appealing alternative to the legal political framework. This movement demonstrated its strength through significant events like the large anarchist march in La Boca in 1904.

Sara Justo was a leading figure in the Argentine women's rights movement during the early 20th century. She co-founded the Women's Pro-Suffrage Committee in 1907 alongside Alicia Moreau to promote the emancipation of women. Justo also helped establish the Feminist Center of Argentina in 1905 with Julieta Lanteri and Elvira Rawson. These activists worked together to prepare petitions regarding women's rights. Their efforts were central to the struggle for political rights in the country.

The presidential victory of Mauricio Macri in 2015 introduced a new industrial model to Argentina. This approach aimed for industrial growth driven by an increase in foreign investments, similar to the model implemented by Arturo Frondizi. One of the first significant measures was the repeal of the DJAI, which had been used by the previous government to protect national industry. However, in 2016, industrial activity decreased by 4.6% due to import openings, high inflation, and an uncompetitive exchange rate. Various sectors, including textiles, food and beverages, and metalworking, experienced declines during this period.

Early accounts of the Revolution were written by the protagonists themselves through memoirs, biographies, or diaries. These writings often served personal purposes like justifying actions or cleaning public images rather than purely historiographical ones. Later, Bartolomé Mitre founded the first remarkable historiographical school by viewing the May Revolution as a struggle for political egalitarianism against Spanish oppression. He introduced the idea that the Argentine nation existed before 1810 but was subjugated by Spanish authorities. Other thinkers like Esteban Echeverría focused on the ideals of progress and democracy. These concepts eventually became the central axis for the differences between revisionist history and canonical history.

Argentina has contributed significantly to United Nations peacekeeping operations across the globe. Its soldiers, engineers, police, and Gendarmerie have served in various regions including El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ecuador. The country has also participated in missions in Western Sahara, Angola, Kuwait, Cyprus, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia, and East Timor. Additionally, Argentina hosted a United Nations conference on climate change in November 1998. The nation has also supported United Nations efforts regarding human rights and the fight against international terrorism.

The presence of Koreans in Argentina dates back to 1940, though the first well-known migrants were twelve North Korean prisoners of the Korean War. These individuals chose not to repatriate under the Korean Armistice Agreement and were resettled in Argentina by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1956 and 1957. South Koreans began arriving in the 1960s following an intergovernmental agreement between the two nations. A significant milestone occurred on October 14, 1965, when thirteen families from Busan arrived in Buenos Aires. Today, the Korean diaspora in Argentina remains the second-largest in South America.

Chilean immigration to Argentina dates back to colonial times. A significant historical migration occurred after the Battle of Rancagua when patriots crossed the Andes to seek refuge in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. From the late 19th century, people from the Chiloé Archipelago moved to southern Argentina to work on sheep farms. Migration increased dramatically following the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, which led to the exile of many opponents of the military regime. While some citizens returned to Chile after democracy was restored in 1990, others chose to settle in Argentina.

Sites are recognized because they possess significant cultural or natural heritage as defined by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Cultural heritage includes monuments, groups of buildings, and archaeological sites. Natural heritage involves physical and biological formations, geological features, or sites important for science and beauty. To be listed, each entry must meet at least one of ten specific criteria. These criteria are divided into cultural and natural categories.

The myth involves a struggle between the good spirit Trentren and the evil serpent Caicai. Caicai was a large three-armed creature and the chief of all animals who lived in a lake high on Trentren. After being bothered by people, Caicai attempted to wipe out the Mapuche by causing the sea to rise. Many people and animals survived by climbing Trentren, which rose higher to stay above the flooding water. This battle eventually resulted in Trentren saving the Mapuche and vanquishing the evil spirit. Different versions of this story exist, including variations where the mythical snakes are related to the gods Nguenechèn and Kueyen.

Argentine folklore is traditionally identified with rural music, distinguishing it from the urban style of tango. Several fundamental genres emerged before the major immigration waves of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These include the chacarera, which shows Afro influence in its rhythm, and the zamba, considered the quintessential national style. Other important genres include the milonga campera, the arunguita, and the chamamé. Regional variations also exist, such as the cueca riojana and the cueca norteña found in the northwest.

The 1994 amendment was approved on 22 August 1994 by a Constitutional Assembly that met in Santa Fe and Paraná. The process began when the calling for elections and main issues were agreed upon in 1993 between President Carlos Menem and Raúl Alfonsín. Following elections held in April 1994, a total of 305 constituents gathered to deliberate on the reform. The assembly was chaired by Osvaldo Mercuri and ultimately approved the reform of 43 articles. This period of deliberation included some tension, such as the resignation of Monsignor Jaime de Nevares.

The 2004 energy crisis was caused by a shortage of natural gas supplies. Following the economic recession from 1999 to 2002, industrial recovery led to a rapid increase in energy demand. However, the extraction and transport of natural gas could not keep up with this growth. Since half of the electricity in Argentina depends on gas-powered thermal plants, the system faced significant pressure. This resulted in intermittent supply cuts for many industrial facilities and power plants.

Argentina implemented several measures to respond to the outbreak, including restrictions on movement and commerce. The government also closed borders as well as schools and educational institutions. A nationwide lockdown was established on 19 March 2020, and another nationwide lockdown occurred from 22 to 31 May 2021. During the early stages of the pandemic, the government's responses were among the best received by the population in the region. Although testing increased over time, there were concerns regarding less testing compared to regional neighbors like Chile and Peru.

The 2024 Copa Argentina was won by Central Córdoba (SdE) after they defeated Vélez Sarsfield 1–0 in the final. This victory marked the first time the team has won this specific tournament. By winning, they qualified for the 2025 Copa Libertadores group stage. They also earned the right to play against the 2024 Argentine Primera División winners in the Supercopa Argentina. The competition officially ran from 25 January until 11 December 2024.

The 2025 Copa Argentina was a major football competition that ran from 22 January to 5 November 2025. This fifteenth edition of the tournament saw Independiente Rivadavia win their first title by defeating Argentinos Juniors in a penalty shootout. As a result of this victory, Independiente Rivadavia qualified for the 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage. They also earned the right to play in the 2025 Supercopa Argentina against the winners of the 2025 Trofeo de Campeones. The competition featured 64 teams from various divisions including the Primera División and Primera Nacional.

The 2026 Copa Argentina is the sixteenth edition of this competition. It officially begins on 18 January and is scheduled to end on 2 December 2026. A total of 64 teams participate in the tournament, including teams from the Primera División, Primera Nacional, Primera B, Primera C, and Federal A. The winner of this competition will earn qualification for the 2027 Copa Libertadores. This edition follows the previous champions, Independiente Rivadavia, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals.