An introduction to the complex history of Colombia.

PRE COLUMBIAN PERIOD

Colombia did not have the large and more well-known ancient civilizations that Mexico and Peru are known for.

Around 10000 BC, there were hunter-gatherers who lived around the Bogota region.

Later however, between the 11th and 14th Centuries AD, the Tayrona civilization built the now famous Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) where roughly 2-4000 people are believed to have lived. The Spanish conquistadors wiped out the people and the city was not found again until 1975 because of being hidden away by lush vegetation and rain forest. The location was on the slopes of tee towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta by the Caribbean coast in the North of Colombia.

The other indigenous people were the Muisca who lived in the present day Boyaca-region near Bogota.

Spanish Conquest & Colonial Times

The Spanish arrived in what is today known as Colombia in the early 1500s and the first settlement was made in Santa Marta in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas and in Cartagena, a superior natural port, by Pedro de Heredia in 1533.

Not before 1550, was Bogota deigned capital of New Granada (similar in size and territory to present-day Colombia) followed by the establishment of the Vice Royalty of New Granada in 1739, again with Santa Fe de Bogota as its' capital, comprising a region that today includes the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, positioning Bogota as one of the more important administrative Spanish centers in South America at that time.

Under Spanish rule, slaves were shipped to South America through the main port in Cartagena but tensions rose increasingly toward the end of the 18th Century, culminating with Napoleon conquering Spain in 1810 that lead to the establishment of separate governments by Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay in the years 1810-11 as they refused to acknowledge Napoleon's brother as monarch of Spain. The official Colombian day of Independence is July 20.

What followed was however, a period of unrest and civil war between 1812 and 1815.

Independence

Simon Bolivar is recognized as the leader of the Independence struggle of Colombia, first defeating the Spanish in a number of battles in 1812, to be pushed back once again by the Spanish after they regained their throne from Napoleon and once again set about conquering their colonies once again but to their dismay, Bolivar wasn't about to give up, returning in 1819 to kiss some serious Spanish ..., and taking Bogota on August 10th, 1819.

Simon Bolivar

The liberator, Simon Bolivar, died an inglorious death from Tuberculosis in 1830. He was poor and without power, having lost control over Gran Colombia and ironically, having declared himself dictator, albeit on a temporary basis, in 1828. Bolivar was against slavery and a liberal in favor of a central government arguing the dictatorship was necessary for a short period in order to reestablish authority over the republic. This was met with strong resistance and things got worse from there in addition to an assassination attempt in 1828, not long before his death. His final plans following his resignation in 1830, were to live in exile in Europe but never made it.

Liberals vs. Conservatives

Tensions between the Liberals and Conservatives gradually escalated. The latter half of the 19th Century turned into a bloody period with eight civil wars culminating in what is known as the Thousand Days War (1899-1902) leaving ca. 100.000 people dead. During this time, the US saw an opportunity to take control of Panama and it's important canal, Panama officially gaining its' sovereignty from Colombia in 1921.

Guerrillas & Paramilitaries

Escalating conflict between wealthy landowners and poor rural and indigenous peoples, lead to the rise of left-wing groups with Marxist ideologies culminating in the establishment of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 1964, established by Manuel Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas.

Additionally, the ELN (National Liberation Army), another Marxist group, was aided in building its' reputation by Father Camilo Torres who was killed the first time he saw combat.

In opposition to the FARC, a land-owner paramilitary organization was founded under defense secretary general Fernando Landazabal.

The Marxist ideological foundations of the FARC was seriously undermined over time with the then near-collapse of communism worldwide and increasingly, the organization shifted to kidnapping and drug trafficking that further complicated matters and the "purity" of the groups' initial ideology.

Estimates of the FARC's drug and kidnapping revenue, are as high as US$ 200 million per year during the 80's and 90's.

Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel

There is no doubt that cocaine, drug trafficking and Pablo Escobar, are still major associations with present day and the history of Colombia. The Medellin Cartel founded and run by Escobar in the 1970s operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Escobar was estimated as the 7th richest person in the world at the height of his power, worth aproximately US$ 25 Billion. Bribery, threats, killings and corruption were common place as government officials and judges were bribed or killed. They even killed the presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan in 1989.

It is my personal understanding that no one in Medellin, at least of a certain age, has been untouched by tragedy either directly or indirectly by this gruesome period in Medellin's history. I personally believe that the wounds of that time are still healing and notice that people often prefer not to delve into talking about those times and understandably so. Perhaps it explains something of the positive and joking nature of so many Colombians from the region who have somehow managed to find joy in positive things. Young men, boys even, were often hired as "Sicarios" (assassins) to kill for a measly sum in order to buy a pair of Nike or Adidas shoes.

Pablo Escobar was finally gunned down in 1993 and the Medellin Cartel finally ended, the power having gradually shifted to the Cali Cartel.

Elected President of Colombia in 2002, Medellin born president Alvaro Uribe, began his first term in office. Following the former president Andres Pastrana's unsuccessful attempts at a seize fire with the FARC, Colombia was ready for a drastic change. Educated at Oxford and Harvard universities, Uribe, considered as something of a right-wing candidate, stepped up to the plate and has brought about significant change to the nation.

Uribe pushed back the FARC and ELN through military force and within 2 years of presidency, achieved a 50% decrease in kidnappings, assassinations and killings. Popularity has been steady at 70% and he was elected for a second term in office resulting from an amendment in the constitution.

There are those that argue that Uribe favors the middle and upper classes, is too heavy handed in his dealings and question possible drug trafficking associations that he may have had. These allegations have not been proved.

Uribe's father, was killed by the FARC in 1983.

We hope you found this introduction to the history of Colombia interesting.

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