Many important historical events took place here over the years. 
The Mapuche were the original inhabitants of Middle Chile. They had no written language, but some artifacts remain that give insight into their lifestyle. They were hunters, gatherers and farmers and lived in small family groups and villages.
Middle Chile was invaded first by the Inca Empire in the late 1400s, but the Mapuches managed to maintain control of the region. The Spanish arrived in the 1530s and brought with them colonization and disease. During this period, the Spanish founded many cities including Chillán (1580), Talca (1742) and Rancagua (1743). 
The Chilean war of independence was fought from 1810 to 1826, led by Bernardo O’Higgins. Chile’s liberator was born in Chillán and many important battles were fought between the Spanish conquistadors and the native Chileans in the area. Several battles took place in and around the city of Rancagua, including The Disaster of Rancagua (1814), which saw Chilean forces defeated by the Spanish. 
Eventually the Chileans managed to gain independence from Spain and Bernardo O’Higgins famously signed Chile’s declaration of independence in Talca in 1818.
Unfortunately, due to the large amount of seismic activity in middle Chile most of the historic architecture in its cities and towns has been destroyed.