Home > Colombia Map > Columbian History

Columbian History

by poonam bisht

Colombian history dates back to the period about than 2000 years ago, when the Chibcha and the Caribbean people lived in patchwork throughout Colombia. The history of Colombia gives us a…


Colombian history dates back to the period about than 2000 years ago, when the Chibcha and the Caribbean people lived in patchwork throughout Colombia. The history of Colombia gives us a vivid estimate of the rich past of Colombia.

Historical background of Colombia states that Colombia had once been a part of the Guajira Peninsula, which was visited by the Spanish expedition in 1499. It was around 1510 that the colonists established a mainland settlement on the Gulf of Uraba, towards the south-west of the Caribbean coast. In 1538, Santa Fe de Bogota was founded by the Spanish.

With the outbreak of the war in 1778, the Spain imposed a heavy tax on the colonists, which resulted in the Revolt of the Comuneros in New Granada in 1781. The Spanish viceroy was deposed by the revolutionary leaders and a governing council, consisting of the criollos, was created.

After the creation of an independent governing body the history in Colombia took a new turn. The creation of governing body created an impetus to the creation of an independent nation. Under the guidance of General Simon Bolivar, the Colombians defeated the Spanish forces at the Battle of Boyaca. General Simon Bolivar, thus, became the President and declared General Francisco de Paula, a fellow liberator, as the Vice-President. But the alliance did not last long. Thus, a long phase of political violence followed in the history of Colombia.

The secession of Ecuador and Venezuela, Gran Colombia dissolved and led to the formation the Republic of New Granada. Santander was proclaimed as the first president of Gran Colombia. It is noteworthy that Colombia showed the characteristics of both liberal republic and extremely centralized, authoritarian form of administration between1849 to 1886.

Colombian history witnessed the formation of the Republic of Colombia in 1886. But the Regeneration ceased to exist, with the emergence of the La Guerra de los Mil Dias. Again, in 1946 there was a major outburst. It was in 1974 that the arrangement of the National Front ended, but the opposition leaders still continued to be invited by the president to participate in the cabinet meetings continued till 1990s.

Explore the history and deeply fascinating culture of this major south American economy.

Related Maps