The Mapuche Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Araucania, is an ancient indigenous kingdom in the southern region of Chile that has experienced many wars and territorial changes throughout its history. This article will explore the origins, culture, politics, and economy of the Mapuche Kingdom in order to better understand the history and culture of this indigenous kingdom.
1. Origin
The origins of the Mapuche Kingdom can be traced back to the colonization of the Chilean region in the 16th century, when European colonists began to invade the area and try to bring the area under the territory of the Spanish Kingdom, however, the indigenous peoples of the region, including the Mapuche people, resisted them stubbornly.
The Mapuche are one of the main indigenous peoples of the region, living in the Araucanía region in south-central Chile, and in the face of the oppression and invasion of the colonizers, the Mapuche began to organize and form a strong resistance movement, they used guerrilla tactics and mountainous terrain to fight the colonists, while also building alliances with other indigenous peoples.
In particular, they formed an alliance called the "Araucania Union", under which the Mapuche established their own political, economic and military structures and began to extend their territory to Andorran-inhabited areas in the south.
After the establishment of the Mapuche Kingdom, they began to build their own political and military structures, and the Mapuche kings were responsible for leading the country and armies and taking measures to protect their territory and culture. At the same time, a parliament and a court system had been established within the Kingdom to manage internal affairs and resolve disputes.
2. Culture
The Mapuche have their own unique language, called Mapuche, belonging to the Araucanian language family, which is very complex and includes many accents and dialects, in addition, the Mapuche also have their own script, known as "Metavay". Such writing is used to record information such as history, legends and cultural practices.
While the Mapuche people are known for their unique artistic style, they use bright colors and intricate patterns to paint traditional motifs and myths and legends on clothes, pottery and other handicrafts, and the works of art of Mapuche culture often have a mystical meaning, reflecting the beliefs and worldview of the Mapuche people.
Their religious beliefs are polytheistic, they believe that nature and animals are spiritual, and they consider themselves to be one with nature, their beliefs and ritual activities are often related to natural phenomena and seasonal changes, they also believe in the existence of spirits and ancestors of predecessors, so ancestor worship and sacrifices are carried out in some rituals and celebrations.
The Mapuche people have their own traditional education system, mainly taught by elders and family elders, their education mainly includes moral, religious, historical and handicraft knowledge, in addition, modern education has gradually entered the Mapuche community, and more and more Mapuche people have begun to receive modern education.
3. Politics and economics
The political system of the Mapuche Kingdom is based on the system of chieftains, the chiefs are the leaders and representatives among the Mapuche people, the political and social structure of the Mapuche Kingdom is based on the values and cultural habits of the Mapuche people, they believe that the land is sacred, so they regard the land as public property and do not allow the privatization of land, the Mapuche emphasize community cooperation and mutual assistance, and pay attention to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.
In addition to chiefs, the Mapuche Kingdom has other official positions, such as commander, inquisitor, and religious leader, who are responsible for managing and maintaining the public affairs of the community, dealing with conflicts and disputes, and promoting the harmony and development of the community.
The economy of the Mapuche Kingdom was mainly agricultural, with crops such as corn, sorghum, sugar cane, peanuts, beans, as well as fruit trees and cotton. Due to its geographical location, the Mapuche Kingdom has abundant agricultural production that can meet domestic needs, while also exporting to traders from neighboring countries and distant places.
The Mapuche kingdom is close to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, so its trade is very prosperous, the people of this country trade with the Arabian Peninsula, India, China and other countries through sea and land trade, among which exports include ivory, gold, monkeys, coconut, birds, wood, glass beads, conch, etc., while imported goods are mainly textiles, metal utensils, luxury goods, etc.
IV. Conclusion
To sum up, the Mapuche Kingdom is an ancient and prosperous indigenous kingdom in the southern region of Chile, with a rich cultural and historical heritage, the Mapuche people are known for their tenacious spirit of resistance and the national spirit of the pursuit of freedom, which has been reflected in all stages of its history.
The establishment of the kingdom was due to the joint actions of the Mapuche people, demonstrating their unity and strong organizational capacity, the language, culture, art, religion and political institutions of the kingdom have unique characteristics that reflect the unique cultural traditions and historical and cultural values of the Mapuche people, whose culture and traditions have remained to this day and play an important role in Chile's cultural diversity and national unity, despite the gradual decline of the Mapuche kingdom under Spanish colonial rule.
Bibliography:
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