Stock Photos from Jesuit Ruins in Paraguay - September 12th, 2009 This page contains a small sample of the photos available from the Paraguay ruins. Click Here to view ALL the photos available for licensing at Extreme Nature Photography.   Ruinas Jesuíticas in Paraguay, South America - Ruinas Trinidad and Ruinas Jesús de Tavarangue                                           This page contains a small sample of the photos available from the Paraguay ruins. Click Here to view ALL the photos available for licensing at Extreme Nature Photography.   About the Jesuit Ruins: Jesuit Ruins of Jesus and Trinidad are located in the Department of Itapua, Paraguay, are reductions that are still preserved, among many towns founded by Jesuit missionaries in the colonial context of its work in South America in the seventeenth century. These religious foundations, among many others, were created in 1609 and were developed over 150 years. Both reductions were declared Historical Patrimony of Humanity by Unesco in 1993. The Jesuit Reductions of Paraguay, is considered one of the most impressive creations of the evangelizing work done by the Jesuits. They are a testimony to the rich history of Paraguay. The Paraguay was discovered by Alejo Garcia in 1524. Its evolution in the political, economic and social undergoing a slow process marked by conflict between the Spanish and natives, who were fighting to keep their territory. Until 1590 the Spanish had founded ten cities and forty colonies in South America. The Indians, subdued by force of arms, and in many cases voluntarily, constituted the Spanish servers through the encomienda system. The Spanish kings tried to improve the quality of life of Native Americans, issuing decrees for their protection, but had difficulty in exercising control over them. The encomienda system led to frequent revolts of the subject race. It was not until the founding of the reductions came a time of improving the living conditions of indigenous people. In 1586 came the first Jesuits to Tucuman, and in 1587, at the request of the Bishop of Asuncion, Don Alonso Guerra, also to Paraguay. In this context, the Jesuits began the work of evangelization and the building of towns or reductions in the current area of the departments of Misiones and Itapúa in Paraguay. The first activity of the Jesuits to arrive in Paraguay was the formation of self-sufficient villages in areas inhabited by indigenous and structure in written form the Guarani language. Not only were engaged in religious education but laid down the guidelines of a political, cultural, educational and social who influenced the subsequent development of Paraguay. The Indians, mostly nomads, accustomed to a life without structures were nucleated in small communities in the jungles. Around the mission of the Jesuits were formed into groups of two or three thousand of every village. This missionary group founded about 30 missions in territories that now belong to Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. Many of these missions were rebuilt and preserved.     Website copyright notice below: Jesuit ruins in Paraguay stock photos are copyrighted and protected under United States and International copyright laws. These video stills may not be reproduced in any form, downloaded, stored, or manipulated   without prior permission from © Ultimate Chase, Inc.