|
USCMA
Presentation | Information
About Colombia | Colombia
Holidays
Colombian
Literature | History
in Dates | Links
HISTORY
IN DATES
Until
1499: Numerous Amerindian tribes were spread out over Colombia's
rugged terrain. They include the Calima, Muiscas, Quimbaya,
Sinú, and Tayrona peoples. Little is known about these tribes.
Although they made finely-crafted artifacts, most of them
were not city builders like the Incas. When the Spaniards
arrived, their gold and silver ornaments were melted down
and their settlements were destroyed.
1499:
Although Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus,
he never actually set foot in the country. The first Europeans
to reach Colombia were led by Alonso de Ojeda. On his second
voyage to the New World, his party ventured into the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta region. The local Amerindians possessed
gold ornaments, leading the Spaniards to believe that the
golden city of El Dorado was located in Colombia. Ojeda then
explored along the coast, where he was fatally wounded by
the natives. The Indians also destroyed Ojeda's settlement
San Sebastián de Urabá.
1525:
Rodrigo de Bastidas founds Santa Marta, the first European
settlement in Colombia to withstand the
Amerindian
opposition. The settlement declined after 1532 when the local
Indians refused to supply it with food.
1533:
Pedro de Heredia founds Cartagena, which soon becomes Colombia's
main trading center and port.
1536:
The conquest of the interior begins, when three Spanish expeditions
work their way inland, linking up in Muisca territory. By
playing one faction off against another, the Spanish soon
came to rule the Muisca peoples. These expeditions also founded
some of Colombia's most important towns, including Bogotá
and Cali. Relatively little gold was found.
1717:
The Viceroyalty of Peru is split up. Colombia is now administered
as part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (Virreynato de la
Nueva Granada).
1781:
A tax rebellion by the Comuneros in Socorro becomes the first
Colombian revolt against Spain.
1808:
Napoleon Bonaparte replaces the King of Spain with his brother,
Joseph Bonaparte. Several Spanish colonial outposts, including
several Colombian cities, refuse to recognize the new King's
authority.
1815
to 1817: Napoleon sends troops to Colombia, which reestablishes
his authority.
1819:
Venezuelan freedom fighter Simón Bolívar, known as
El Libertador, succeeds in driving the Spanish out of Gran
Colombia (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama). He attempts
to add Peru and Bolivia to Gran Colombia, but fails.
1828:
With separatist movements threatening to pull Gran Colombia
apart, Simón Bolívar appoints himself dictator. This also
fails, and he resigns in 1830. He dies the same year. Ecuador
and Venezuela leave Gran Colombia. Colombia itself becomes
the República de Nueva Granada.
1849:
Colombian politics divides into two groups, the Liberals
and the Conservatives.
1857:
Colombia undergoes the first of several changes in name and
constitution.
|
