Several theories exist. A 17th-century Spanish chronicler named Diego de Rosales attributed it to a Picunche tribal chief called Tili who ruled the Aconcagua valley at the time of Inca conquest in the 15th century. Other proposed origins include the Mapuche word chilli, meaning 'where the land ends', and the Quechua words chiri or tchili, meaning 'cold' or 'snow'. Diego de Almagro is credited with universalizing the name after his 1535-36 expedition south from Peru.
How did the Mapuche resist Spanish colonization in Chile?
The Mapuche resisted through repeated insurrections, beginning with a massive revolt in 1553 that resulted in the death of conquistador Pedro de Valdivia and the destruction of major colonial settlements. Further uprisings occurred in 1598 and 1655, pushing the southern colonial border northward each time. The Spanish crown abolished Mapuche enslavement in 1683, acknowledging that coercion intensified resistance. The Mapuche maintained a degree of autonomy until the late 19th century.
What happened during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile?
Following the military coup of the 11th of September 1973, General Augusto Pinochet led a regime that lasted 16 and a half years. According to the Rettig Report and Valech Commission, at least 2,115 people were killed and at least 27,265 were tortured, including 88 children under 12. By 2011, Chile recognized a total of 40,018 people killed, tortured, or imprisoned for political reasons. The regime ended after Pinochet lost a national plebiscite on the 5th of October 1988.
What is Chile's role in global copper production?
Chile produces a third of the world's copper. Copper mining accounts for 20 percent of Chilean GDP and 60 percent of its exports. The Escondida mine, located in Chile, is the largest copper mine in the world and alone produces more than 5 percent of global copper supply. The state mining firm Codelco competes alongside private mining companies in the sector.
How did Chile rescue the 33 trapped miners in 2010?
On the 5th of August 2010, the access tunnel collapsed at the San José copper and gold mine near Copiapó in northern Chile, trapping 33 men 700 meters underground. A government-organized rescue effort located the miners 17 days after the collapse. All 33 were brought to the surface on the 13th of October 2010 over nearly 24 hours, in a rescue broadcast live on television worldwide.
Who is José Antonio Kast and why is his presidency significant?
José Antonio Kast is a conservative politician who won Chile's presidential election on the 14th of December 2025 with more than 58 percent of the vote and was sworn in on the 11th of March 2026. His victory represented the most significant rightward shift in Chilean politics since the return of democracy in 1990. Kast founded the Republican Party in 2019 and resigned from it before taking office as an independent.