| Region | South America |
| Geography | Andes Mountains • Amazon Rainforest |
| Characteristics | Diverse geopolitical landscape • Influence of indigenous civilizations • Competing colonial powers • Powerful native states like the Inca Empire • Environmental challenges • Lasting impacts of colonialism |
| Colonial Powers | |
| Major Nation-States | |
| Prominent Indigenous Civilizations |
South America is the southernmost continent on the Earth, situated in the Western Hemisphere. It is a land of immense geographic, cultural, and biological diversity, shaped by a complex history of indigenous civilizations, colonial powers, and the emergence of modern nation-states. From the towering Andes Mountains to the vast Amazon Rainforest, South America is a continent of superlatives.
Long before the arrival of European explorers, South America was home to a multitude of advanced indigenous civilizations. Chief among these was the Inca Empire, a vast Quechua-speaking polity that dominated the central Andes region for centuries. The Inca developed highly sophisticated systems of agriculture, engineering, and statecraft, creating an expansive territory that stretched from modern-day Ecuador to Chile.
Other prominent pre-colonial societies included the Muisca Confederation of the Andes, the Tupí-Guarani peoples of the Amazon Basin, and the Mapuche of southern Chile and Argentina. These groups maintained complex social structures, belief systems, and economic networks that were deeply intertwined with the region's diverse ecosystems.
Beginning in the late 15th century, the Spanish Empire and Portuguese Empire began establishing a presence in South America, initiating a prolonged period of colonial conquest and settlement. However, unlike in our timeline, the indigenous civilizations of the continent were able to mount more effective resistance to foreign domination.
The Inca Empire, led by the dynamic Sapa Inca Túpac Amaru I, was able to drive the Spanish invaders out of the Andes on multiple occasions through a combination of military force and shrewd diplomacy. Similarly, the Mapuche people of southern South America waged a protracted guerilla war against the Spanish for centuries, never fully succumbing to colonial rule.
While the Spanish and Portuguese did establish footholds and extract resources from the continent, their control was more limited and contested compared to our reality. This allowed indigenous cultures, languages, and political structures to persist to a greater degree.
The 19th century saw the gradual emergence of independent nation-states across South America, as the region's diverse indigenous groups and Creole elites sought to liberate themselves from European colonial rule. Key events included the Progressian War of Independence in Progressia, the Viceroyalty of Peru's break from Spain, and the establishment of the Kingdom of New Netherland's colonies.
These new states sought to carve out spheres of influence and consolidate power, often through means both cooperative and confrontational. Tensions between rival regional powers like Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela have continued to shape South America's geopolitical landscape up to the present day.
South America is home to some of the most diverse and ecologically significant environments on the planet. The Amazon Rainforest covers a vast expanse of the continent, harboring unparalleled biodiversity and serving as a vital carbon sink. The towering Andes Mountains host unique high-altitude ecosystems and abundant mineral resources.
Coastal regions feature rich marine environments, while the Patagonia region in the south is known for its rugged, glacial landscapes. South America's natural bounty has long been a source of both economic opportunity and environmental concern, as nations and corporations have sought to extract and exploit the continent's resources.
South America today continues to grapple with a range of political, economic, and environmental challenges. Long-standing regional rivalries, the legacies of colonialism, and social inequality have all contributed to political instability and conflict in parts of the continent.
Environmental issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change also loom large. However, South America's diverse population, abundant natural resources, and growing economic and political clout ensure that it will remain a vital and influential region on the global stage for the foreseeable future.
