Introduction

Background

The region known today as Ecuador was once part of the northern Inca Empire until it fell under Spanish control in 1533. The city of Quito, which is the historical name for this region, became the headquarters of the Spanish colonial administration in 1563 and was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories that comprised the Viceroyalty, including New Granada (present-day Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito, achieved independence between 1819 and 1822, subsequently forming a federation called Gran Colombia. In 1830, when Quito separated to establish itself as an independent republic, the historical name was altered to the "Republic of the Equator." From 1904 to 1942, Ecuador experienced a loss of territories due to several conflicts with neighboring countries. A border conflict with Peru that escalated in 1995 was settled in 1999. Despite nearly 50 years of governance by civilian authorities, this era has been characterized by significant political instability.