The Republic of Ecuador is a country in South America. The country lies on both sides of the line of equator and hence got its name. The countries surrounding Ecuador are Peru on the East and South, and Colombia on the north. The western part of Ecuador is guarded by the Pacific Ocean. The largest city in Ecuador is Guayaquil and Quito is the Capital city.  According to Conservation International Ecuador is a mega diverse country with 25000 plant species, 6000 butterflies species, 106 endemic reptiles, and 138 endemic amphibians. The Galapagos have become endangered by many different situations, which now threaten the existence of this exotic ecosystem.  

Archeologists and historians believe that there was human culture in Ecuador around 3500 B.C. much before Columbian period. Many civilizations were grown in those days like the Quitus (near present day Quito), Valdivia Culture on the coast, and the Cañari (in present day Cuenca). Each civilization has developed its own ways of living and tools. Archeologists have found evidences of different architecture, pottery and religious beliefs from each culture separately.

The Incan has ruled Ecuador; the Cañari fell under Incan empire after brief resistance. The Incan Empire divided into two parts following the death of emperor Huayna Capac.  His son Atahualpa received the north, with his capital in Quito, and other son Huascar received the south with its capital in Cusco. The Atahualpa fought war with his brother Huascar and became the emperor of whole empire in 1530. Though Atahualpa won but this was the black day for Ecuador history from where the fall of Incan empire started.

In 1531 and afterward the Ecuador was colony of Spanish people for nearly three hundred years. During Spanish rule Ecuador has seen several downside of human life including civil war, diseases etc. On August 10 1809, Latin America demanded independence of Ecuador from Spain. It was also near Quito, at the Battle of Pichincha in 1822 that Ecuador, under the leadership of Antonio José de Sucre, joined Simón Bolívar's Republic of Gran Colombia, only to become a separate republic in 1830.

The nineteenth century was marked by instability, with a rapid succession of rulers. In 1860, the Gabriel Garcia Moreno amalgamated the country with help from Roman Catholic Church. In 1895 Eloy Alfaro lead the coastal-based revolution and cuts down the power of Clergy and the conservative landowners of the highlands, and this liberal wing retained power until the military "Julian Revolution" of 1925. The 1930s and 1940s were marked by instability and populist politicians, such as five-time President José María Velasco Ibarra.

Control over territory in the Amazon basin led to a long-lasting dispute between Ecuador and Peru and finally war broke down between the two nations. Ecuador and Peru came to an accord formalized in the Rio Protocol, signed on January 29, 1942. The Peru got the disputed territory. In 1999, two more wars happened and a peace agreement was reached finally ending the dispute.

The economy of Ecuador is largely based on agricultural resources and petroleum products. Ecuador exports oils, bananas, flowers and shrimps in large quantities to world market. The economic and political conditions of other countries leave direct impact on Ecuadorian economy. The most popular sports in Ecuador is Soccer. The matches of national football are most watched matches in Ecuador. There is also considerable interests in tennis. Ecuador has won Gold medal in 1996 Atlanta Olympics.