History UsefulNotes / Argentina

One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina is a diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking. Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), it has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes. Argentina had significant European colonization which brought wealth to the country, and by the early 20th century, it was a rising power. However, over the 20th century, {{military coup}}s and economic crises led to challenges. Argentina is known for its sultry, passionate {{tango}} music and dance, the horse-riding rural {{Gaucho}} people and folksingers in the ThePampas (a bit like {{Cowboy}}s), and authors such as Borges and Julio Cortezar.

In Argentina depictions, if there isn't a couple with the man dressed in an elegant suit and the woman in a sexy red dress dancing to tango, then maybe it is a Gaucho, a horseback-riding peasant from the rural areas, perhaps playing its ''vigüela''[[note]]a kind of guitar[[/note]] near a ''fogón''[[note]]bonfire[[/note]] with its fellow ''Gauchos'', singing proudly about their life in ''LasPampas las pampas''[[note]]name of the Argentine plains where Gauchos used to roam[[/note]], or lamenting over their unfortunate lives... it is part of Argentine folklore.

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a [[{{UsefulNotesArgentineCivilWar}} civil war]] about the way to organize the country that only ended after 60 years.

In the late 19th century, there was a huge immigration wave of Europeans, a kind only rivaled by the United States. Over 6 million Europeans immigrated during the period, easily doubling the population, and coupled with the fact that there were not many natives in the area to begin with, meant that Argentina's population are distinctly "whiter" compared to most of its Latin American peers (only UsefulNotes/{{Uruguay}}, which has a nonexistent native population, is whiter). The immigration brought a lot of wealth to the area, and by the early 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, with a powerful military, a strong economy that dwarfed the likes of UsefulNotes/{{France}} and UsefulNotes/{{Germany}}, and a high standard of living rivaling that of any European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several {{military coup}}s, a couple of populist/nationalist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises and hyperinflation. Nowadays, although the country is not exactly ''poor'', it has really fallen hard from being a superpower candidate, and is not even considered the richest country in Latin America anymore. Simon Kuznets, who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Economics, was said to have uttered: "There are four kinds of countries in the world: developed countries, undeveloped countries, [rags to riches] [[RagsToRiches Japan]] and [riches to rags] [[RichesToRags Argentina]]."

Argentina's Great Writer is generally agreed to be Creator/JorgeLuisBorges, one of the best and most influential practitioners of the MindScrew. Not to mention that most of Argentina's ''other'' great writers were also good friends of his. Among these were Adolfo Bioy Casares, Ernesto Sabato (some of his conversations with Borges were put together and published in 1976), Silvina Ocampo, and though not a friend of his, Creator/JulioCortazar, author of the postmodern ''Literature/{{Hopscotch}}'', has stated that Borges was a source of inspiration for his stories, most of which brimming with MagicRealism. In regards to ComicBooks, Quino's ''ComicStrip/{{Mafalda}}'' and Oesterheld's ''ComicBook/ElEternauta'' are easily the most influential to come out of the country.

Talking about the music, Argentina's most famous cultural innovation is the sultry, passionate {{tango}}. Originating from the dock areas and brothels of Buenos Aires, this musical style and dance has lyrics that emphasize nostalgia, sadness, and lost love. Beginning in Argentina and Uruguay, it has spread around the world and become a global phenomenon.

In Argentina depictions, if there isn't a couple with the man dressed in an elegant suit and the woman in a sexy red dress dancing to tango, then maybe it is shown a Gaucho from the rural countryside, perhaps playing its ''vigüela''[[note]]a kind of guitar[[/note]] near a ''fogón''[[note]]bonfire[[/note]] with its fellow ''Gauchos'', singing proudly about their life in ''las pampas''[[note]]name of the Argentine plains where Gauchos used to roam[[/note]], or lamenting over their unfortunate lives... it is all part of Argentine folklore.

Argentine folk music is diverse: music from the north-western provinces usually are ''carnavalitos'' or other music styles like those also found in Bolivia and Peru, and are played with traditional instruments like ''bombos'', flutes and ''charangos''. Meanwhile those in north-eastern provinces have styles like ''chamamé'' shared with Paraguay, usually played with violins, guitars and harps. Folk styles in the Patagonian and western provinces usually are shared with Chile; and many styles from the ''llanura pampeana'' associated with the Gauchos like ''milonga'' and ''chacarera'' have relatives in Uruguay.

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a [[UsefulNotesArgentineCivilWar civil war]] about the way to organize the country that only ended after 60 years.

In the late 19th century, there was a huge immigration wave of Europeans, a kind only rivaled by the United States. Over 6 million Europeans immigrated during the period, easily doubling the population, and coupled with the fact that there were not many natives in the area to begin with, meant that Argentina's population are distinctly "whiter" compared to most of its Latin American peers (only UsefulNotes/{{Uruguay}}, which has a nonexistent native population, is whiter). The immigration brought a lot of wealth to the area, and by the early 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, with a powerful military, a strong economy that dwarfed the likes of UsefulNotes/{{France}} and UsefulNotes/{{Germany}}, and a high standard of living rivaling that of any European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several {{military coup}}s, a couple of populist/nationalist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises and hyperinflation. Nowadays, although the country is not exactly ''poor'', it has really fallen hard from being a superpower candidate, and is not even considered the richest country in Latin America anymore. Simon Kuznets, who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Economics, was said to have uttered: "There are four kinds of countries in the world: developed countries, undeveloped countries, [[RagsToRiches Japan]] and [[RichesToRags Argentina]]."

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a CivilWar about the way to organize the country that only ended after 60 years.

Talking about the music, Argentina's most famous cultural innovation is the sultry, passionate {{tango}}. Originating from the dock areas and brothels of Buenos Aires, this musical style and dance it has become a global phenomenon.

One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina is a diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking. Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), it has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes. Argentina had significant European colonization which brought wealth to the country, and by the early 20th century, it was a rising power. However, over the 20th century, {{military coup}}s and economic crises led to challenges. Argentina is known for its sultry, passionate {{tango}} music and dance, the {{Gaucho}} people and folksingers in the ThePampas (in countryside), and authors such as Borges and Julio Cortezar.

One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina is a diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking. Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), it has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes. Argentina had significant European colonization which brought wealth to the country, and by the early 20th century, it was a rising power. However, over the 20th century, {{military coup}}s and economic crises led to challenges. Argentina is known for {{tango}} music and dance, {{Gaucho}} people and folksingers in the ThePampas (in countryside), and authors such as Borges and Julio Cortezar.

One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina is a diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking. Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), it has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes. Argentina had significant European colonization which brought wealth to the country, and by the early 20th century, it was a rising power. However, over the 20th century, {{military coup}}s and economic crises led to challenges. Argentina is known for {{tango}} music and dance, {{Gaucho}} people in the countryside, and authors such as Borges and Julio Cortezar.

But if we are talking about Argentina's music, its most telling is ''ROCK NACIONAL''![[note]]national rock, in the sense of "from Argentina" country-wise speaking, not politically... not that Argentine rock doesn't sing about politics, it even defied the last military dictatorship's yoke, but we will get on that later.[[/note]] With a history spanning decades, Argentine rock (or ''rock nacional'', as it is called inside the country) was one of the first not being sung in English language, a complete novelty at that moment with uncertain results, and it became the first non English language form of rock to be comercially sucessful, having revolutionized the hell of Latin America countries music with the Argentine invasion in the '80s. Some rock historians place Argentine rock in 3rd place after American and British rock, for the mark it left in the history of world's music changing it all in all the countries in the continent, even giving birth in some of that countries to their local form of rock. Bsnds include Soda Stereo, Rata Blanca, Los Gatos, Almendra, Vox Dei, Sui Generis, Aquelarre, Los Abuelos de la Nada, Seru Giran, Virus, Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota, Riff, V8, Almafuerte, Los Enanitos Verdes, Sumo, Divididos, Las Pelotas, Attaque 77, Flema, Dos Minutos, Embajada Boliviana, Fun People, El Otro Yo, Babasónicos, Los Piojos, Los Ratones Paranoicos, La Renga, Las Pastillas del Abuelo, Bersuit Vergarabat, Catupecu Machu, Arbol, A.N.I.M.A.L....

After finding its first ever big sales in the form of Los Gatos' La Balsa, Argentine rock took an evolution to more psychedelic, experimental and progressive styles, and a more aggresive, protest-song style in their lyrics, eventually gaining the antipathy of the military dictatorship and leading to a bitter feud that brought Argentine Rock to agony. It was however the Guerra de Malvinas that was used by the militars to boost national pride and so prohibited broadcast of songs in English language and instead promoted their old enemies, the ''pelilargos y melenudos''[[note]]long-haired and mane bearing[[/note]], effectively revitalizing Argentine rock. After the loss of the war and the falling of the military dictatorship, Argentine rock moved on and influenced itself with the new wave and synthpop that was raging in the US and UK, and took a twist to a more laid back and dancing style that consequently conquered all Latin America. While with the advent in the '90s of the ''rock barrial''[[note]]'hood rock[[/note]] and ''rock rolinga''[[note]]Rolling Stone style rock, which is funny because it is an entire subculture named "rolingas" worshipping the Stones, all dressing and haircutting like them, with ridiculous results... though the girls are seriously hot as hell.[[/note]] Argentine rock forgot what put itself in the frontline of music in Latin America, and lost terrain at the hands of Mexican and Chilean rock, there is always an Argentine rock band in the top of the charts in Latin American countries, and so, ''rock nacional'' will never cease to exist.

Acting wise, the country has produced Guillermo Francella, Adrian Suar, Norma Aleandro, Rodolfo Ranni, Leticia Bredicce, the late Alberto Olmedo, Jorge Porcel, Emilio Disi and Ricardo Darín. Comedy groups like Music/LesLuthiers, [[LongRunners with more than 40 years on stage]], have made a name of themselves in all Spanish-speaking countries, even winning awards in Spain. In the last decades however, the media has been crowded with quarrel-loving scantly-clad vedettes, actresses and fashion models, with TV shows like those of host Marcelo Tinelli's VideoMatch and Bailando Por Un Sueño making an industry out of this. It is worth noting that MoralGuardians are really weak and almost absent in Argentina, for they are relationed with the right-wing that supported the military dictatorship, and so Argentine audience evolved to be very laid back about sexual themes (a trait shared with, and maybe due to proximity influence from, Brazil). Nowadays everybody is alright if an actress pole-dances in a thong on TV, usually achieving the highest ratings as a result...

The country is known for its meal, and the ''parrillas'' (Argentinian grills, commonly known around the world as steak restaurants) are commonplace. One traditional way of preserving the beef for export was to pack it in coarse-grained salt, known as "corns" of salt, hence "Corned Beef". Which means very different things in Britain and America. Argentine cuisine is very rich, ranging recipes from a wide range of origins: from the Native times came corn omelettes, the ''mate'' drink and roasted fishes like the ''surubí''; in colonial times ''locro'' (a bean stew), ''empanadas'' and ''asados'' (a traditional type of barbeque) were added; later the immigration waves brought pastas, "helados" [[note]]ice creams[[/note]] (recognized and paired in quality with Italian ''gelatos'') ''fatay'' or ''Empanada árabe'' (arabic "empanada"), and ''choripanes'' [[note]]grilled sandwiches of sausages[[/note]]; currently a wide variety of oriental cuisine [[note]] brought by a relatively recent wave of chinese immigration, over a traditional but smaller Japanese community[[/note]], and the fusion of them all made the Argentine cuisine.

And just for you to know, this is not the only place where [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]] escaped to after WWII, and its far more exaggerated in the media than what it actually occurred. Also, Villa Gesell has no mountains, despite how ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' might have depicted it. It's a seaside city in the east of Buenos Aires, while the big mountains are located in the west of the country, in the Andes range.

Ah, ''la hermosa Argentina''... home of ''la calle más larga'' [[note]]the longest street (Rivadavia Ave.)[[/note]] and ''la calle más ancha'' [[note]]the widest street (9 de Julio Ave.)[[/note]]... home of ''el río más ancho'' [[note]]the widest river (River Plate)[[/note]] and ''las minas más lindas del mundo''[[note]][[{{Narcissist}} the world's most beautiful chicks...]][[/note]] One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina is a diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking. Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), it has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes, ranging from deserts to mountains, forests, jungles and glaciers (as exemplified by National Parks like "Nahuel Huapi", "Los Glaciares", "Iguazú" and "Perito Moreno" among several others).

Argentina has the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua at 6959 m[[note]]sorta like 22387 ft[[/note]]. At the same time, Argentina is also home to the Western Hemisphere's lowest depression, Laguna del Carbón at 105 m below sea level.[[note]]344 ft below sea level[[/note]] Its northern boundaries have the hot tropical weather of Bolivia and Brazil, giving (in the jungles to the east) nest to fauna like monkeys, tapirs and jaguars; while in the west the desert-like mountains are the habitat of pumas, llamas and condors. Meanwhile, in its southern lands (more than 5000 km south) the ice-cold temperature that anticipates Antarctica is the habitat (in the western mountains) of foxes, deer and maras; while in the Atlantic coast there are penguins, whales and sea lions.

Ah, ''la hermosa Argentina''... home of ''la calle más larga'' [[note]]the longest street (Rivadavia Ave.)[[/note]] and ''la calle más ancha'' [[note]]the widest street (9 de Julio Ave.)[[/note]]... home of ''el río más ancho'' [[note]]the widest river (River Plate)[[/note]] and ''las minas más lindas del mundo''[[note]][[{{Narcissist}} the world's most beautiful chicks...]][[/note]] One of the world's southernmost countries, Argentina can be noted as an incredibly diverse country, geographically and culturally speaking.

Officially the '''Argentine Republic''' ('''Spanish:''' ''República Argentina''), Argentina has a wide range of ecosystems and biomes, ranging from deserts to mountains, forests, jungles and glaciers (as exemplified by National Parks like "Nahuel Huapi", "Los Glaciares", "Iguazú" and "Perito Moreno" among several others). Argentina has the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua at 6959 m[[note]]sorta like 22387 ft[[/note]]. At the same time, Argentina is also home to the Western Hemisphere's lowest depression, Laguna del Carbón at 105 m below sea level.[[note]]344 ft below sea level[[/note]] Its northern boundaries have the hot tropical weather of Bolivia and Brazil, giving (in the jungles to the east) nest to fauna like monkeys, tapirs and jaguars; while in the west the desert-like mountains are the habitat of pumas, llamas and condors. Meanwhile, in its southern lands (more than 5000 km south) the ice-cold temperature that anticipates Antarctica is the habitat (in the western mountains) of foxes, deer and maras; while in the Atlantic coast there are penguins, whales and sea lions.

Argentina has quite the sights, like the forests and lakes lying along the Andes mountain range, and also some of the most important places for scientific research, like Valle de la Luna, an area which due to geological quirks over million years has soils from different historical times placed in rows. In fact in Paleontology, it is said there are two top-places in the world: one is China, and the other is Argentina.

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves, that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a CivilWar about the way to organize the country that only ended after 60 years.

In the late 19th century, there was a huge immigration wave of Europeans, a kind only rivaled by the United States. Over 6 million Europeans immigrated during the period, easily doubling the population, and coupled with the fact that there were not many natives in the area to begin with, meant that Argentina's population are distinctly "whiter" compared to most of its Latin American peers (only UsefulNotes/{{Uruguay}}, which has a nonexistent native population, is whiter). The immigration brought a lot of wealth to the area, and by the early 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, with a powerful military, a strong economy that dwarfed the likes of UsefulNotes/{{France}} and UsefulNotes/{{Germany}}, and a high standard of living rivaling that of any European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several military coups, a couple of populist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises. Nowadays, although the country is not exactly ''poor'', it has really fallen hard from being a superpower candidate, and is not even considered the richest country in Latin America anymore. Simon Kuznets, who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Economics, was said to have uttered: "There are four kinds of countries in the world: developed countries, undeveloped countries, [[RagsToRiches Japan]] and [[RichesToRags Argentina]]."

Talking about the music, Argentina's most famous cultural innovation is the {{tango}}. Originating from the dock areas and brothels of Buenos Aires, it has become a global dance.

In Argentina depictions, if there isn't a couple dressed in elegant suits dancing to tango, then maybe it is shown a Gaucho from the rural countryside, perhaps playing its ''vigüela''[[note]]a kind of guitar[[/note]] near a ''fogón''[[note]]bonfire[[/note]] with its fellow ''Gauchos'', singing proudly about their life in ''las pampas''[[note]]name of the Argentine plains where Gauchos used to roam[[/note]], or lamenting over their unfortunate lives... it is all part of Argentine folklore.

Argentine folk music is very, very diverse: music from the north-western provinces usually are ''carnavalitos'' or other music styles like those also found in Bolivia and Peru, and are played with traditional instruments like ''bombos'', flutes and ''charangos''. Meanwhile those in north-eastern provinces have styles like ''chamamé'' shared with Paraguay, usually played with violins, guitars and harps. Folk styles in the Patagonian and western provinces usually are shared with Chile; and many styles from the ''llanura pampeana'' associated with the Gauchos like ''milonga'' and ''chacarera'' have relatives in Uruguay.

Classical music in Argentina is also eminent, with some people like Daniel Baremboim even making an orchestra with Israeli and Palestinian people, for the sake of peace.

But if we are talking about Argentina's music, its most telling is ''ROCK NACIONAL''![[note]]national rock, in the sense of "from Argentina" country-wise speaking, not politically... not that Argentine rock doesn't sing about politics, it even defied the last military dictatorship's yoke, but we will get on that later.[[/note]] With a history spanning decades, Argentine rock (or ''rock nacional'', as it is called inside the country) was one of the first not being sung in English language, a complete novelty at that moment with uncertain results, and it became the first non English language form of rock to be comercially sucessful, having revolutionized the hell of Latin America countries music with the Argentine invasion in the '80s. Some rock historians place Argentine rock in 3rd place after American and British rock, for the mark it left in the history of world's music changing it all in all the countries in the continent, even giving birth in some of that countries to their local form of rock. There are so many Argentine rock bands that rocked the hell out, that it is impossible to not forget one: Soda Stereo, Rata Blanca, Los Gatos, Almendra, Vox Dei, Sui Generis, Aquelarre, Los Abuelos de la Nada, Seru Giran, Virus, Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota, Riff, V8, Almafuerte, Los Enanitos Verdes, Sumo, Divididos, Las Pelotas, Attaque 77, Flema, Dos Minutos, Embajada Boliviana, Fun People, El Otro Yo, Babasónicos, Los Piojos, Los Ratones Paranoicos, La Renga, Las Pastillas del Abuelo, Bersuit Vergarabat, Catupecu Machu, Arbol, A.N.I.M.A.L....

After finding its first ever big sell in the form of Los Gatos' La Balsa, Argentine rock took an evolution to more psychedelic, experimental and progressive styles, and a more aggresive, protest-song style in their lyrics, eventually gaining the antipathy of the military dictatorship and leading to a bitter feud that brought Argentine Rock to agony. It was however the Guerra de Malvinas that was used by the militars to boost national pride and so prohibited broadcast of songs in English language and instead promoted their old enemies, the ''pelilargos y melenudos''[[note]]long-haired and mane bearing[[/note]], effectively revitalizing Argentine rock. After the loss of the war and the falling of the military dictatorship, Argentine rock moved on and influenced itself with the new wave and synthpop that was raging in the US and UK, and took a twist to a more laid back and dancing style that consequently conquered all Latin America. While with the advent in the '90s of the ''rock barrial''[[note]]'hood rock[[/note]] and ''rock rolinga''[[note]]Rolling Stone style rock, which is funny because it is an entire subculture named "rolingas" worshipping the Stones, all dressing and haircutting like them, with ridiculous results... though the girls are seriously hot as hell.[[/note]] Argentine rock forgot what put itself in the frontline of music in Latin America, and lost terrain at the hands of Mexican and Chilean rock, there is always an Argentine rock band in the top of the charts in Latin American countries, and so, ''rock nacional'' will never cease to exist.

In the late 19th century, there was a huge immigration wave of Europeans, a kind only rivaled by the United States. Over 6 million Europeans immigrated during the period, easily doubling the population, and coupled with the fact that there not many natives in the area to begin with, meant that Argentina's population are distinctly "whiter" compared to most of its Latin American peers (only UsefulNotes/{{Uruguay}}, which has a nonexistent native population, is whiter). The immigration brought a lot of wealth to the area, and by the early 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, with a powerful military, a strong economy that dwarfed the likes of UsefulNotes/{{France}} and UsefulNotes/{{Germany}}, and a high standard of living rivaling that of any European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several military coups, a couple of populist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises. Nowadays, although the country is not exactly ''poor'', it has really fallen hard from being a superpower candidate, and is not even considered the richest country in Latin America anymore. Simon Kuznets, who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Economics, was said to have uttered: "There are four kinds of countries in the world: developed countries, undeveloped countries, [[RagsToRiches Japan]] and [[RichesToRags Argentina]]."

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves, that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a CivilWar about the way to organize the country.
There was a huge immigration wave of Europeans by the end of the 19th century, and in the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, being the second most powerful and prosperous country in South America after UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, with a powerful military, a strong economy, and a standard of living rivaling that of any Western European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several military coups, a couple of populist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises.

There was a huge immigration wave of Europeans by the end of the 19th century, and in the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina was a rising power, being the second most powerful and prosperous country in South America after UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, with a powerful military, a strong economy, and a standard of living rivaling that of any Western European nation. However, several factors undermined Argentina's growth and resulted in the country entering a massive decline. This included several military coups, a couple of populist leaders, and a reckless management of the economy that caused frequent economic crises that still occur even today.

There was a huge immigration wave from Europe and by the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century it was on its way to become a world power with a standard of living rivaling that of a Western European nation. However, several factors undermined this, such as several military coups, populist leaders and a reckless managment of the economy that caused frequent economic crises even to this day.

The country's government consists of three branches, the legislative branch, the judicial branch, and the executive branch.

But if we are talking about Argentina's music, its most telling is ''ROCK NACIONAL''![[note]]national rock, in the sense of "from Argentina" country-wise speaking, not politically... not that Argentine rock doesn't sing about politics, it even defied the last military dictatorship's yoke, but we will get on that later.[[/note]] With a history spanning decades, Argentine rock (or ''rock nacional'', as it is called inside the country) was one of the first not being sung in English language, a complete novelty at that moment with uncertain results, and it became the first non English language form of rock to be comercially sucessful, having revolutionized the hell of Latin America countries music with the Argentine invasion in the '80s. Some rock historians place Argentine rock in 3rd place after American and British rock, for the mark it left in the history of world's music changing it all in all the countries in the continent, even giving birth in some of that countries to their local form of rock. There are so many Argentine rock bands that rocked the hell out, that it is impossible to not forget one: Soda Stereo, Rata Blanca, Los Gatos, Almendra, Vox Dei, Sui Generis, Aquelarre, Los Abuelos de la Nada, Seru Giran, Virus, Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota, Riff, V8, Almafuerte, Los Enanitos Verdes, Sumo, Divididos, Las Pelotas, Ataque 77, Flema, Dos Minutos, Embajada Boliviana, Fun People, El Otro Yo, Babasonicos, Los Piojos, Los Ratones Paranoicos, La Renga, Las Pastillas del Abuelo, Bersuit Bergarabat, Catupecu Machu, Arbol...

Argentina was scarcely populated during the pre-Columbian times, with just nomadic tribes. The Spanish empire sent several colonization waves, that established many cities. The Portuguese empire was forced by the Treaty of Tordesillas to stay at the east of South America; the land of modern Uruguay was near the limits and became a frequent cause of conflict between both. The country declared its independence during the UsefulNotes/SpanishAmericanWarsOfIndependence, but then fell into a CivilWar about the way to organize the country. There was a huge immigration wave from Europe and by the end of the XIX century and the beginings of the XX century it was on its way to become a world power. However, several factors undermined this, such as several military coups, populist leaders and a reckless managment of the economy that caused frequent economic crises even to this day.

* '''Highest point:''' Aconcagua (6,960 m/22,835 ft) (10th)

* '''Country calling code:''' 54

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' AR

* '''Area:''' 2,780,400 sq km (1,073,500 sq mi) (8th)

* '''Area:''' 2,780,400 km (1,073,500 sq mi) (8th)

* '''Area:''' 2,780,400 km
(1,073,500 sq mi)