The History of Colombia
While traveling to Colombia can give you tremendous insight to what makes this unique country so special, learning more about Colombia history before you arrive is a good idea as well.
Long before Colombia was the country we know today, it was inhabited by groups of hunters and gathers. Even as far back as 10,000 BC, the land was home to these groups. As time went on, these groups became even more advanced. Some of the groups even developed their own political structure with the government led by caciques. One such group was the Muiscas who formed their society around Bogota and whose system was considered almost as advanced as that of the Incas. The leader of this group would cover himself in gold to offer gifts to a goddess the group worshipped. The belief is that this tradition was the beginning of the legend of El Dorado.
In 1982, a new president came to power in Colombia and tried to end both problems facing the country. His efforts increased the violence. Before 1990, the main cause of death in Colombia was murder. The problems continued to worsen throughout the next decade. In 2004, the United Nations claimed the anti-drug campaigns in Colombia had been a humanitarian disaster and had left much of the country in shambles.
Despite its troubled and violent past, Colombia today has shown many improvements. Not only are the major cities and most parts of the countryside safe for travelers, but the overall violence plaguing the country has been reduced. Between 2000 and 2005, kidnappings dropped from 3,700 to only 800. During the years 2002 and 2005, homicide rates also fell dramatically, as did the number of guerilla insurgents.
Earliest History of Colombia
Long before Colombia was the country we know today, it was inhabited by groups of hunters and gathers. Even as far back as 10,000 BC, the land was home to these groups. As time went on, these groups became even more advanced. Some of the groups even developed their own political structure with the government led by caciques. One such group was the Muiscas who formed their society around Bogota and whose system was considered almost as advanced as that of the Incas. The leader of this group would cover himself in gold to offer gifts to a goddess the group worshipped. The belief is that this tradition was the beginning of the legend of El Dorado.
Enter the Spanish in Colombia History
The next stage of Colombia history came a few centuries later. Around 1499, the territory of Colombia near the Caribbean was first explored in 1499 by a Spanish explorer named Rodrigo de Bastidas. Three years later, Christopher Columbus traveled in the general area but never explored the country which would later be named for him. The more inland exploration of the area was started in 1508 by Vasco Nunez de Balboa, another Spanish explorer.Colombia History & Independence
After the Spanish discovered the area, it was only a matter of time before the land became colonized by the country. Despite the colonization, the indigenous people did fight back for their independence but made no difference. In 1810, another attempt at independence was tried. This attempt was led by Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander. Bolivar was the country’s first president; Santander became the second. In 1819, the history of Colombia was marked by the country’s successful independence from Spain.History of Colombia in the 20th Century
Just before the turn of the century, Colombia became embroiled in a civil war that only ended in 1902. Just one year later, the country lost Panama to the United States. While things looked bleak for the country, major changes were coming when a new administration took over in 1930. The bad news was that none of the liberal changes seemed to end the ongoing difficulties associated with the country. Between 1946 and 1958, an insurrection cost the country thousands of lives.Guerilla Problems in Colombia History
When the problems and violence persisted in Colombia, other groups began to try different tactics to bring about changes they felt were necessary. During the 1960s and 1970s, Marxist groups established themselves and used their guerilla groups to fight back against the government. As a result, the country ended an even deeper period of instability. This continued and worsened during the 1970s and 1980s when the country became notable for illegal drug trafficking and production. As many people now know, a big claim to fame in Colombia history was that 75% of the world’s cocaine came from the country.In 1982, a new president came to power in Colombia and tried to end both problems facing the country. His efforts increased the violence. Before 1990, the main cause of death in Colombia was murder. The problems continued to worsen throughout the next decade. In 2004, the United Nations claimed the anti-drug campaigns in Colombia had been a humanitarian disaster and had left much of the country in shambles.
Colombia Today
Even though the 1990s were a trying time for the country, Colombia managed to establish its own constitution in 1991. This constitution, among other things, established the election procedures. In 2006, the most recent presidential elections took place in the country with Alvaro Uribe winning his re-election bid by a landslide with more than 60% of the votes. His stunning victory speaks of the positive changes that have occurred in the country during his presidency.Despite its troubled and violent past, Colombia today has shown many improvements. Not only are the major cities and most parts of the countryside safe for travelers, but the overall violence plaguing the country has been reduced. Between 2000 and 2005, kidnappings dropped from 3,700 to only 800. During the years 2002 and 2005, homicide rates also fell dramatically, as did the number of guerilla insurgents.
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