In a movement initiated by Antonio Nariño, who opposed Spanish centralism and which led the opposition against the viceroyalty. After the independence of Cartagena in November 1811, two independent governments formed which fought a Civil War, a period known as La Patria Boba. The following year Nariño proclaimed the United Provinces of New Granada, headed by Camilo Torres Tenorio. Despite the successes of the rebellion, the emergence of two distinct ideological currents among the liberators (federalism and centralism) gave rise to an internal clash between these two, thus contributing to the reconquest of territory by the Spanish, allowing restoration of the viceroyalty under the command of Juan de Samano, whose regime punished those who participated in the uprisings. This stoked renewed rebellion, which, combined with a weakened Spain, made possible a successful rebellion led by Simón Bolívar, who finally proclaimed independence in 1819. The pro-Spanish resistance was finally defeated in 1822 on the present territory of Colombia and in 1823 around the Viceroyalty of time.

The Congress of Cucuta in 1821 adopted a constitution, whose main goal was to create the Republic of Colombia, now referred to as La Gran Colombia, which also included present-day Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador. [29] However, the new republic was very unstable and ended with the rupture of Venezuela in 1829, followed by Ecuador, in 1830.

The Venezuelan Simón Bolívar had become the first President of Colombia, and Francisco de Paula Santander was Vice President; when Simón Bolívar stepped down, Santander became the second President of Colombia. The rebellion finally succeeded in 1819 when the territory of the Viceroyalty of New Granada became the Republic of Colombia organized as a union of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela (Panama was then an integral part of Colombia).

From the Tayrona Park, on the Caribbean coast, move up a cobblestone path to the ruins of Pueblito, stone city built by the Tayrona, an advanced pre-Hispanic culture whose legacy of jewelry can be admired in the Museo del Oro in Bogota and Tayrona Culture Museum in Santa Marta.

Columbian Colombia

More than a dozen Colombian cultures inhabited the territory before the Conquest and left evidence of high level of development achieved. Cities and stone pathways, statuary, funerary urns and refined gold and pottery pieces are part of the legacy that today allows us to know their lifestyle and beliefs.

The Muiscas, settled in the highlands of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, was a village of farmers. They were excellent goldsmiths and potters and left priceless treasures. The myth of El Dorado, which inspired the conquest of the interior of the continent, had its origin in the inauguration of the new chief who, covered with gold, on a raft headed toward the center of Lake Guatavita accompanied by their priests.

The pottery and metalwork are also highlighted in the cultures Quimbaya, Sinu, Tayrona and Calima. His works can be seen in the Museo del Oro del Banco de la República, the Archaeological Museum Casa del Marqués de San Jorge and the National Museum in Bogota, the Quimbaya Culture Museum in Armenia, the Tayrona Culture Museum in Santa Marta and Sinu Culture Museum in Cartagena. In specialist galleries can buy replicas made with the same techniques used by the indigenous groups.

A few hours from Cartagena de Indias is Mompox, port on the Magdalena River which became the center of commerce and stately villa. Its architecture was notable works as the Church of Santa Barbara or the College Pinillos.

The capital of the viceroyalty was established in Bogotá, the headquarters of the Spanish government and high hierarchy. In the neighborhood of La Candelaria and around houses and temples are preserved to keep their treasures. Many of these buildings have become museums where you can appreciate the art and culture of our ancestors.

Tunja, Popayan and preserved colonial neighborhoods full of charm: keep churches Baroque altarpieces covered in gold foil and narrow streets, quiet squares and stately homes feel that time has elapsed.

The strategic position of Cartagena de Indias, the main slave market of South America, made the city was coveted by English privateers who regularly tried to take it. Strengths that were constructed in the port became better protected in America. In the walled town is preserved historical center with important civil and religious treasures for which he was declared Historical Heritage of Humanity.

Honda had a great importance as an intermediate point in the ascent of passengers and cargo from Bogota during the colonial period and until the nineteenth century and still retains its beautiful architecture and its steep streets.

All over Colombia, there are scattered villages and towns that recall the importance of the foundations of the colonial period and keep priceless architectural treasures, such as Pamplona in Norte de Santander, Girón and Barichara in Santander, Villa de Leyva in Boyaca and Santa Fe de Antioquia near Medellin. In places that were the scene of the struggle for emancipation from Spain are relics that commemorate the wars of independence.

The mixture of races has made the country and the world cultural expressions of great value in the fields of music, visual arts and literature, as witnessed by writers and artists whose work can be admired in museums, galleries, libraries and spaces country’s public.

1492 Oct 12 Columbus discovers America.

16 May 1499 Travel by Alonso de Ojeda, Juan de la Cosa and Amerigo Vespucci: discover the Cape de la Vela.

22 May 1810 First Republic. Cartagena authorities deposed realistic. Jul 20 Santa fe In establishing a Governing Board which assumes command and replaces the Viceroy Amar y Borbon.

1816 Apr 28 Spaniards to reconquer New Granada and the Viceroyalty restored. Pablo Morillo 26 may come to Santa Fe began the era of terror.

1819 May 23 begins the campaign to liberate New Granada. Jun 15 begins to climb the Andes. Jul 27 Battle of Pantano de Vargas. Aug 7 Battle of Boyaca frees the New Granada. Created December 17 the Republic. Colombia by the Congress of Angostura, with three departments: Venezuela, Cundinamarca and Quito.

1903 Nov 3 Proclaimed independence of Panama.

1948 Murder of Liberal leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. Military Government.

1953 Jun 13 With the support of various political and social sectors, Lieutenant General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla overthrew President Laureano Gómez.

10 May 1957 General Rojas Pinilla leaves the power in the hands of a military junta that rules until August 7, 1958. National Front, December 1 Approved plebiscite institutionalises bipartisan government.

1991 Feb 5 Installed the National Constituent Assembly. Jul 4 Proclaimed a new constitution.

Undoubtedly the most significant event of the twentieth century in Colombia was the assassination of Liberal leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan in an assassination that have not cleared. The event, which occurred on 9 April 1948, precipitating the country into an unprecedented violence that preys especially with the peasants who faced death and the two traditional parties. The National Front, a pact between two parties, reconciled to the chiefs, but left out many sectors, which would be the seed of the Liberal and Communist guerrillas to last the rest of the century. Strengthening drug gangs from the 70s would check to Colombian society and profoundly affect the ruling classes. But international pressure, especially from the United States and the work ethic of some politicians, journalists, judges and officials not bowed to the advancement of mafias and causing a bloody war against the state in the 80s and especially to the death of Pablo Escobar, the top leader in 1993. The government of President Cesar Gaviria conducted a process he called “economic opening” that made Colombia move from a protectionist to a globalized economy. Gaviria came forward with the Constituent Assembly in which he signed a new Constitution.

The government of President Andres Pastrana’s closest forward dialogues which have been with the guerrillas and especially with the FARC to create demilitarized zones. But these strengthened their military power in the country through bombings, kidnappings, intimidation and drug trafficking. Meanwhile, paramilitary groups were created, especially under the leadership of the AUC which was intended to fight the guerrillas. These groups were supported by many members of the military and police forces as well as politicians and landowners. The actions of the paramilitaries in Colombia and its battles against guerrillas, created a humanitarian tragedy of global proportions to make the country as one of the first number of displaced persons, war crimes such as massacres and terror in many parts of the country.

The History of Colombia is the interaction of rival Civilian elites. The political elite, Which overlaps with social and economic elites, has shown a marked ability to retain the reins of power, effectively excluding other groups and social institutions, such as the masses and the military, from significant participation in or control over the political process . Members of the lower classes have found it difficult, Although not impossible, to challenge or join the established elite in the political and economic spheres. Their subordination dates to the rigid colonial social hierarchy that places the Recreation-and-born above the native born. Elite control of the military is the result of the “civilian mystique” that developed along with independence. That mystique has successfully restricted the military to nonpolitical functions, with three exceptions-1830, 1854, and 1953. Thus Colombia has a history rare for Latin America in that the country has been dominated more by Civilian than by military rule. Because military forces have been denied political power, the civilian elites have had only themselves, divided into rival groups, to contend with in the political arena.

Some analysts have divided the political elite along economic lines between the landed and the non landed. The agricultural export sector, the backbone of the Colombian economy, has supplied the two main economic groups that also have been the most powerful in the political sphere: the landed aristocracy, who are devoted to the large-scale production of agricultural crops, and the merchants, who are engaged in the trade of these export goods and imported consumer goods. Lesser economic groups, such as the emerging manufacturing sector, have allied themselves with one of the two dominant groups, most often the merchants. Differences within the allied groups on issues such as trade created factions within the alliances even before they officially became established political parties. In addition, the nation’s economic development opened up new economic opportunities, and new forces Increasingly Expressed their views through the political factions.

History

Mampo (or Mompoj) was the local indigenous chieftain of the Quimbaya civilization (or Kimbaya) people when the Spanish arrived, and Mompox means “land of the ruler Mampo”. The city was founded on May 3, 1537 by Don Alonso de Heredia as a safe port on the Magdalena. Santa Cruz de Mompox became quite prosperous as a port for the transportation of goods upriver into the interior. A royal mint was established here and the town was famous for its goldsmiths. This prosperity had begun to wane in the Nineteenth Century, but continued until early in the Twentieth Century when the river shifted and sediment accumulated on this arm of the river. At which point Magangue became the favored port.

Buildings and Architecture

Santa Cruz de Mompox is known for the preservation of its colonial architectural features, as expressed by the mixture of its Spanish and Indian styles. UNESCO named the historic center of Mompox as a World Heritage Site in 1995. Today, most of the colonial buildings are still used for their original purposes, which provides an excellent example of a Spanish colonial city. Of particular note is the wrought iron work decorating doors, railings and window grills along the streets, notably on Calle de la Albarrada, Calle Real del Medio and Calle de Atras. Notable churches include Santa Bárbara (built 1613), San Agustín (built 1606), San Juan de Dios and Immaculate Conception.