Ecuador, Its Ancient and Modern History by C. Reginald Enock (PDF)
C. Reginald Enock’s Ecuador: Its Ancient and Modern History,Topography and Natural Resources, Industries and Social Development (1914) is one of the earliest comprehensive English-language studies of Ecuador, blending history, geography, and economic analysis with vivid illustrations and maps. It was published in London
Key Themes Ancient civilizations (pre-Inca “Shiri” kingdom), Inca conquest, Spanish rule and independence, topography (coast, Andes, Oriente), climate, government, people/races, towns, transport, natural history (fauna/flora), antiquities, agriculture/mining, commerce/finance.
Ancient and Modern History (Chapters I–VI)
Enock begins with a general review of Ecuador’s topographic grandeur (the Andes’ most remarkable volcano cluster near the equator) and historical interest. He traces:
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Prehistoric/prehistoric period:
The “Shiri” (or Chimu) nation, a semi-civilized people with giants in tradition, stone “chairs” (seats) on hill platforms (now jungle-covered), and a stable kingdom in Quito. These people are credited with early Andean agriculture (e.g., potato origins) and arriving by raft.
-Inca arrival
(Chapter III): The Incas conquered the territory around the time of Pizarro’s arrival; Quito was incorporated into the Inca empire.
-Spanish advent and rules
(Chapters IV–V): Conquest by Pizarro and followers; establishment of Spanish rule from Quito as a hub. Early explorers descended the Andes via the Napo River to the Amazon.
-The Republic (Chapter VI):.
Independence era onward. Enock covers political developments up to the early 20th century (the book’s cutoff), including key figures and events:
- 1860s–1870s: Presidents like García Moreno (a strongman with religious despotism and concordat with Rome), the 1868 earthquake (devastating Quito and upland towns, with ~30,000 deaths estimated), and assassinations/revolutions.
- 1870s–1880s: Liberal shifts (e.g., Veintemilla’s anti-clerical reforms, abolition of the concordat); brief liberal periods.
- 1890s–1900s: Radical reforms under Eloy Alfaro (anti-clerical “dictator” who curtailed Church power, legalized civil marriage/divorce, nationalized Church lands, and promoted progressivism). Later back-and-forth with President Plaza and others; anti-clerical laws, state control of Church properties, and a Guayaquil–Quito railway contract.
- Political strife, revolutions, and liberal vs. conservative/clerical tensions dominate the narrative. Enock portrays these as typical of Latin American “meteoric” leadership cycles, with Ecuador’s stability hindered by remoteness and external influences (e.g., Chilean/Peruvian alliances).
He notes Ecuador’s role in regional events (e.g., spectator to the Chile–Peru War of 1879–1883 and the Esmeralda cruiser transfer to Japan).