In 1545 the Spanish conquerors discovered the rich silver mines of Cerro Rico in Postosí, it became the richest city of the New Continent. Spanish domination lasted three centuries, until the independence movement began with the Royal Audience of Characas (today Sucre). The rebellions lasted about 15 years until independence was obtained on August 6th, 1825, and a new state called Bolivia was created in honor of Simon Bolivar. Since that time, modern culture has never really succeeded in replacing age old tradition and a way of life that remains to this day, virtually unchanged.