Concepción is a city in south-central Chile, on the Biobío River near the Pacific coast. It was founded by the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia at Penco, on the bay, as one of the Spanish settlements of the region, and it stood at the edge of Mapuche territory, which made it a frontier city and military base during the long Arauco War. Earthquakes and tsunamis repeatedly devastated it, and after a catastrophe in 1751 the city was moved inland to its present site. Bernardo O'Higgins proclaimed Chilean independence there at the beginning of 1818. The University of Concepción was founded in 1919, and the city became an industrial center. The 2010 earthquake and tsunami caused severe damage in the area.
Before and after
- 29 September 1547Birth of Miguel de Cervantes
- 2 December 1547Death of Hernán Cortés
- January 1548Birth of Giordano Bruno
- 1550Construction of Süleymaniye Mosque
- 1550Founding of Concepción
- 1 February 1550Birth of John Napier
- 12 June 1550Founding of Helsinki
- from 15 August 1550 to 4 May 1551Valladolid debate
- from 9 August 1551 to 15 August 1551Siege of Tripoli
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 1500Modern period
- from 15th century to 18th centuryEarly modern period
- from 1526 to 1857Mughal Empire
- from 1543 to 1687Scientific Revolution
- June 1644The Manchus take Beijing and found Qing rule
- 1748Excavations begin at Pompeii
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.