Dominican Republic's history spans over 7,000 years — from Tainos, Columbus discovery, Spanish colonization, independence, Trujillo dictatorship, to modern Dominican Republic.
Tainos and Discovery (7000 BC - 1492)
Taino people inhabited Hispaniola before Columbus. Estimated 250,000-1 million Tainos in 1492. Christopher Columbus arrived December 5, 1492 — first European colony in Americas.
Spanish Colonization (1492-1821)
Santo Domingo founded 1496 — oldest European city in Americas. Tainos exterminated quickly. Sugarcane introduced — African slaves brought. Treaty of Ryswick 1697 divided island — west for France (Haiti), east for Spain.
Independence and Conflicts (1821-1924)
Brief independence from Spain 1821. Occupied by Haiti 1822-1844. Juan Pablo Duarte founded La Trinitaria — independence February 27, 1844. US occupation 1916-1924.
Trujillo Dictatorship (1930-1961)
Rafael Trujillo dictator 31 years — one of most brutal of 20th c. Parsley Massacre 1937 — 20,000 Haitians killed. Assassinated May 30, 1961.
Instability and Democracy (1961-1996)
Civil war 1965. US intervention 1965-1966. Joaquin Balaguer intermittent president 1966-1996.
Modern Dominican Republic (1996-today)
Leonel Fernandez 1996-2000, 2004-2012. Danilo Medina 2012-2020. Luis Abinader since 2020. Tourism economy — Punta Cana attracts millions. 11 million inhabitants. Baseball national passion.