History

11000 v.Chr. First traces of human presence in Colombia. 200-600 Tierradentro Culture. 500-1000 San Agustín Culture. 1400-1500 Tayrona and Muisca Cultures flourish. 1525 The city of Santa Marta is founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas. It is the first Spanish colony in South America. 1533 Cartagena is founded by Pedro de Heredia. 1538 Bogotá is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. 1550-1800 Cartagena grows into an important sea port and a point of exchange between Spain and Latin America. 1801 Alexander von Humboldt voyages through Colombia and is welcomed as an oficial visitor. 1819 Simón Bolívar and his men win the battle of Boyacá and gain independence from Spain. 1830 La Gran Colombia disintegrates and becomes three separate independent states: Colombia, Venezuela y Ecuador 1849 The Liberal and Conservative Parties are founded. Until recently the relationship between the two parties was volatile. 1886 A new constitution for Colombia. This constitution remains until 1991. 1899-1902 The War of a Thousand Days destroys isolated areas of the country. 1903 Colombia loses Panamá due to US pressure. 1920 SCADTA (now Avianca) is established. The world’s second oldest airline after KLM. 1928 Protest by the the workers of the United Fruit Company, who opertate banana plantations on the coast. The workers’ demands for better working and living conditions are violently and bloodily rejected. 1948 Jorge Eliecer Gaitán, liberal presidential candidate and the great hope of the majority of ordinary Colombians is assassinated. La Macarena is recognised as the first Nacional Natural Park. 1948-1953 Following the assassination of Gaitan, the country endures a year of violence which takes the lives of more than 300.000 Colombians. 1953-1957 Military dictatorship under the rule of General Rojas Pinilla 1957-1974 A political alliance between the conservatives and liberals gives rise to the Nacional Front, which alternates presidents between the two parties. Foundation of the first guerilla group. 1967 100 Years of Solitude’, the acclaimed novel by Gabriel García Márquez, is first published. It tells of Colombian history and society in the style that has become known as ‘magic realism’. 1982 Gabriel García Márquez is awarded the Nobel prize for literature. 1985 The guerilla group M-19 occupies the High Court building in Bolivar Square. Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts. 1986-1990 The presidency of Virgilio Barco sees the beginning of peace negotiations with guerilla organisations. M-19 hand over their weapons. 1989 Assassination of liberal presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, by order of Pablo Escobar, the well-known drug traffiker. 1991 Colombia draws up a new constitution. 1993  Colombia qualifies for the World Cup after beating Argentina 5-0 in Buenos Aires. Pablo Escobar is shot to death at the age of 43. 1994- 1998 Ernesto Samper Pizano wins the presidential election, it comes to light that his electoral campaign was financed by the proceeds of drug traffiking. Start of a severe recession. 1998 New president Pastrana begins peace negotiations with the Farc in a demilitarised zone. 2001 Breakdown of peace negotiations with the FARC. 2002 Newly elected president Alvaro Uribe declares his intention to govern with a “firm hand but a big heart’”. 2004 Slow economic recovery. Colombians begin to feel confident in their country again and the firm hand of Uribe demonstrates its first achievements. An increase in tourism occcurs, obviously due to the calming of the security situation.