Mapuche

Quick Facts: Who was Mapuche?

Subject:

Mapuche

Known for:

Indigenous people of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, speakers of Mapudungun.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Mapuche ( mə-POO-chee, Mapuche and Spanish: [maˈputʃe]), also known as Araucanians, are a group of Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who share a common social, religious, and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage as Mapudungun speakers. Their homelands once extended from Choapa Valley to the Chiloé Archipelago and later spread eastward to Puelmapu, a land comprising part of the Argentine pampa and Patagonia. Today, the Mapuche represent 77.16% of Chile’s indigenous peoples and about 8.8% of the total national population. The Mapuche are concentrated in the Araucanía region.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Many have migrated from rural areas to the cities of Santiago and Buenos Aires to pursue economic opportunities. Around 92% of the Mapuches are from Chile. The Mapuche traditional economy is based on agriculture; their traditional social organization consists of extended families, under the direction of a lonko or chief. In times of war, the Mapuche would unite in larger groupings and elect a toki (meaning "axe" or "axe-bearer") to lead them. Mapuche material culture is known for its textiles and silverwork.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At the time of Spanish arrival, the Picunche inhabited the valleys between the Choapa and Itata, Araucanian Mapuche inhabited the valleys between the Itata and Toltén rivers, south of there, and the Huilliche and the Cunco lived as far south as the Chiloé Archipelago. In the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, Mapuche groups migrated eastward into the Andes and Pampas, conquering, fusing with and establishing relationships with the Poya and Pehuenche. At about the same time, ethnic groups of the Pampa regions, the Puelche, Ranquel, and northern Aonikenk, made contact with Mapuche groups. The Tehuelche adopted the Mapuche language and some of their culture, in what came to be called Araucanization, during which Patagonia came under effective Mapuche suzerainty. Mapuche in the Spanish-ruled areas, especially the Picunche, mingled with the Spanish during the colonial period, forming a mestizo population that lost its Indigenous identity.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mapuche

True or False: “The term 'Araucanian' used by Spanish colonizers is currently considered a neutral descriptor by all modern Mapuche groups.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While historically significant due to literature like La Araucana, the term 'Araucanian' is now considered pejorative by some members of the community.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• María Félix — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Iconic Mexican 'Diva' of the Golden Age, celebrated for her strong personality and beauty.
• María Rojo — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Esteemed Mexican actress and dedicated politician with a celebrated career.
• María Zambrano — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Spanish philosopher known for 'poetic reason' and profound reflections on exile.
• Maranhão — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A state in Brazil's Northeast Region, known for its unique culture and natural wonders.
• Maratha Empire — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A powerful early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent, known for its warrior culture and expansion.
• Maravi — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A powerful Chewa polity controlling central/southern Malawi, parts of Mozambique, and eastern Zambia.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mapuche