Colombia History Timeline

Colombia, a country located at the northern tip of South America, boasts a rich and complex history that spans pre-Columbian civilizations, Spanish colonization, the fight for independence, and modern challenges of political instability, conflict, and transformation. Its history is shaped by its geographical diversity, indigenous cultures, colonial legacy, and its strategic position as a gateway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Over the centuries, Colombia has experienced periods of great prosperity, as well as internal conflict and struggles for peace. Today, Colombia is a vibrant democracy with a growing economy, though it continues to face challenges related to social inequality and the legacy of its internal conflict. This timeline traces key events in Colombia’s history, from its indigenous roots to the present day.

Pre-Columbian Era and Indigenous Civilizations (Before 1500 CE)

Early Human Settlement and Ancient Cultures (circa 12,000 BCE – 1500 CE)

Human presence in Colombia dates back to around 12,000 BCE, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries in places like El Abra and Tibito.
By 1500 BCE, various advanced civilizations, including the San Agustín, Tairona, Quimbaya, and Muisca, had developed across Colombia. These indigenous groups engaged in agriculture, metalwork, and trade.
The Muisca Confederation, located in the highlands of present-day Bogotá, was one of the most advanced societies in pre-Columbian Colombia, known for its sophisticated political organization, goldworking, and trade networks. The legend of El Dorado, a mythical city of gold, is linked to Muisca rituals.

The Tairona Civilization (1000 CE – 1500 CE)

The Tairona people, living in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, were known for their highly developed urban centers and complex social structures. They excelled in agriculture and metallurgy, creating intricate gold and ceramic artworks.
The Tairona are one of the few pre-Columbian civilizations in South America to have constructed large stone cities, such as the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City), which was rediscovered in the 1970s.

Spanish Conquest and Colonial Era (1500 CE – 1810 CE)

The Arrival of the Spanish (1499 CE – 1536 CE)

The first Spanish explorers arrived on the Caribbean coast of present-day Colombia in 1499, during the third voyage of Alonso de Ojeda. They encountered indigenous groups, including the Tairona and Carib peoples.
In 1536, the Spanish explorer Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada led an expedition from the coast into the interior of Colombia, reaching the Muisca Confederation in the Bogotá savanna. De Quesada successfully conquered the Muisca in 1537, establishing the city of Santa Fe de Bogotá, which became the administrative center of the region.

Spanish Colonial Rule and the Establishment of New Granada (1538 CE – 1717 CE)

After the conquest of the Muisca and other indigenous peoples, the Spanish crown established the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717, encompassing modern-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. The viceroyalty was governed from Bogotá, which became one of the most important cities in the Spanish Empire in South America.
Under Spanish rule, Colombia’s economy was based on gold mining, agriculture, and slave labor. Spanish settlers introduced new crops such as coffee, sugar, and cocoa and developed large haciendas worked by enslaved Africans and indigenous laborers.
The Catholic Church played a central role in the colonial society, establishing missions to convert indigenous populations and founding educational institutions such as the University of Santo Tomás (1580), one of the oldest in the Americas.

Independence Movements and Growing Discontent (18th century CE – 1810 CE)

By the late 18th century, dissatisfaction with Spanish rule grew among the Creole elites (people of Spanish descent born in the colonies), fueled by the Enlightenment ideas of liberty and equality, as well as resentment over high taxes and trade restrictions imposed by the Spanish crown.
Revolts and uprisings occurred in various parts of Colombia, most notably the Comunero Revolt of 1781, in which peasants and indigenous groups protested against the high taxes and oppressive colonial policies. Although the revolt was ultimately suppressed, it foreshadowed future independence movements.

The Wars of Independence and the Birth of Colombia (1810 CE – 1830 CE)

The Beginning of the Independence Movement (1810 CE – 1815 CE)

The independence movement in Colombia began on July 20, 1810, when a group of Creole leaders in Bogotá declared independence from Spain, leading to the establishment of the First Republic of New Granada.
The early years of the independence struggle were marked by internal divisions among the revolutionary forces, with Creole elites, mestizos, and indigenous groups often having different visions for the new nation.
In 1815, Spain attempted to regain control of its colonies, launching a military campaign known as the Reconquista to restore colonial rule. The Spanish forces, led by Pablo Morillo, recaptured much of Colombia, including Bogotá.

Simón Bolívar and the Liberation of New Granada (1816 CE – 1821 CE)

The tide of the independence struggle changed with the arrival of Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan military leader who played a key role in the liberation of several South American countries.
Bolívar, along with his trusted general Francisco de Paula Santander, led a series of successful military campaigns against Spanish forces, culminating in the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819, a decisive victory that secured the independence of New Granada (modern-day Colombia).
Following the victory, Bolívar established the Republic of Gran Colombia, a short-lived union of modern-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, with Bogotá as its capital.

The Fall of Gran Colombia (1821 CE – 1830 CE)

Gran Colombia was plagued by internal conflicts, regional rivalries, and political disagreements between federalists and centralists. Bolívar’s vision of a unified South America began to unravel as different regions sought greater autonomy.
In 1830, Venezuela and Ecuador seceded from Gran Colombia, leading to the dissolution of the union. Bolívar, disillusioned by the collapse of his dream of continental unity, retired from public life and died the same year.
Following the dissolution of Gran Colombia, the Republic of New Granada (modern-day Colombia and Panama) was established in 1831.

Early Republic and Civil Wars (1830 CE – 1903 CE)

The Early Republic and Political Struggles (1830 CE – 1850 CE)

The early years of the Republic of New Granada were characterized by political instability and frequent changes in leadership. Conflicts between federalists, who favored decentralized government, and centralists, who advocated for a strong central government, defined much of the political discourse.
In 1849, the Liberal and Conservative parties were formally established, setting the stage for decades of political rivalry. The Conservatives supported a strong central government, close ties to the Catholic Church, and traditional social structures, while the Liberals advocated for federalism, secularism, and economic reforms.
During this period, Colombia began to integrate into the global economy, exporting tobacco, coffee, and other agricultural products.

The Federal Era and the Colombian Civil Wars (1850 CE – 1902 CE)

In the mid-19th century, the Radical Liberals came to power and enacted sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing Colombia, including the abolition of slavery (1851), the promotion of public education, and the separation of church and state.
The period from 1863 to 1886 is known as the Federal Era, during which Colombia was officially called the United States of Colombia. The Liberals promoted a highly decentralized federal system, but this era was marked by frequent conflicts between regional leaders and the central government.
The Thousand Days’ War (1899–1902), one of Colombia’s most devastating civil wars, pitted Liberals against Conservatives and left the country in ruins. The war resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people and deepened political and social divisions in Colombia.

The Loss of Panama (1903 CE)

In 1903, following the turmoil of the Thousand Days’ War, Panama declared its independence from Colombia with the support of the United States, which sought to build the Panama Canal to facilitate global trade.
The loss of Panama was a significant blow to Colombia’s national pride and territorial integrity, but the canal became a crucial international waterway under U.S. control.

20th Century Colombia: Political Instability and Reform (1904 CE – 1948 CE)

Conservative Rule and Economic Growth (1904 CE – 1930 CE)

After the Thousand Days’ War, the Conservative Party dominated Colombian politics, maintaining power for nearly three decades. This period saw economic growth fueled by the expansion of the coffee industry, which became the backbone of Colombia’s economy.
Despite economic growth, deep social inequalities persisted, particularly in rural areas, where large landowners dominated the agricultural sector, and peasants and indigenous people lived in poverty.

Liberal Reforms and the Rise of Social Movements (1930 CE – 1948 CE)

In 1930, the Liberal Party returned to power under President Enrique Olaya Herrera, marking the beginning of a period of liberal reforms aimed at modernizing Colombia’s economy and addressing social inequalities.
Presidents Alfonso López Pumarejo (1934–1938, 1942–1945) introduced reforms known as the “Revolution on the March,” which included land reform, labor rights, and the promotion of industrialization. These reforms were supported by the growing labor movement and urban middle class but were opposed by the Conservative elite and rural landowners.
The growing political polarization between Liberals and Conservatives, combined with economic disparities, laid the groundwork for future conflict.

The Assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and the Bogotazo (1948 CE)

On April 9, 1948, popular Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was assassinated in Bogotá, sparking widespread riots known as the Bogotazo. The riots left much of the capital city in ruins and marked the beginning of a period of violent conflict known as La Violencia.
La Violencia, a civil conflict between Liberals and Conservatives, lasted from 1948 to 1958 and claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 people. This period of chaos and violence deeply scarred Colombian society and led to further political instability.

La Violencia, the National Front, and the Rise of Guerrilla Movements (1948 CE – 1980s CE)

La Violencia and the National Front (1948 CE – 1958 CE)

During La Violencia, both Liberal and Conservative factions engaged in brutal violence, particularly in rural areas, where land disputes and political rivalries fueled the conflict.
In an effort to end the violence, the National Front agreement was reached in 1957, establishing a power-sharing arrangement between the Liberal and Conservative parties. For the next 16 years, the presidency alternated between the two parties, and political power was equally divided in Congress.
While the National Front brought a temporary end to the violence, it excluded other political movements, including leftist and revolutionary groups, from participating in the political process, leading to the rise of guerrilla movements.

The Emergence of Guerrilla Movements (1960s CE – 1980s CE)

In the 1960s, inspired by the Cuban Revolution and Marxist ideologies, several leftist guerrilla groups formed in Colombia, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, the National Liberation Army (ELN) in 1964, and the 19th of April Movement (M-19) in 1970.
These groups sought to overthrow the Colombian government and address issues of land inequality, social injustice, and political exclusion. The FARC and ELN, in particular, established strongholds in rural areas and funded their operations through kidnapping, extortion, and, eventually, involvement in the drug trade.
The M-19, a more urban-based guerrilla group, gained notoriety for its dramatic actions, including the 1979 siege of the Dominican Republic’s embassy in Bogotá and the 1985 siege of the Palace of Justice, which ended in a deadly military response and the deaths of over 100 people.

The Drug Trade, Civil Conflict, and the Search for Peace (1980s CE – Present)

The Rise of the Drug Cartels and Escalating Violence (1980s CE – 1990s CE)

In the 1980s, Colombia became a major hub for the global cocaine trade, with powerful drug cartels, most notably the Medellín Cartel led by Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel, gaining enormous wealth and influence.
The cartels’ involvement in drug trafficking exacerbated Colombia’s already complex civil conflict, as guerrilla groups, paramilitaries, and drug lords competed for control of territory and resources.
Escobar’s Medellín Cartel waged a violent campaign against the Colombian state, including bombings, assassinations, and the killing of political leaders, journalists, and law enforcement officers. Escobar was eventually killed in 1993, but the drug trade continued to fuel violence in the country.

Peace Efforts and Constitutional Reform (1990s CE – 2000s CE)

In 1991, a new Colombian Constitution was adopted, aimed at modernizing the political system, improving human rights protections, and decentralizing power. The new constitution also created mechanisms for peace negotiations with guerrilla groups.
During the 1990s and 2000s, the Colombian government engaged in various peace negotiations with guerrilla movements, with some groups like the M-19 demobilizing and entering the political process.
However, violence continued, particularly in rural areas, where the FARC and paramilitary groups, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), battled for control. The paramilitaries, funded by wealthy landowners and businesses, engaged in brutal tactics against both guerrillas and civilians.

The Peace Process and the End of the FARC Conflict (2016 CE)

In 2016, after several years of negotiations, the Colombian government, led by President Juan Manuel Santos, reached a historic peace agreement with the FARC, officially ending more than 50 years of armed conflict.
The peace deal included provisions for FARC members to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society, with the creation of a political party and transitional justice mechanisms for victims of the conflict. The agreement was met with mixed reactions, with some segments of Colombian society opposing aspects of the deal.
Despite the peace agreement, violence persists in some regions of Colombia, with dissident FARC factions, drug trafficking groups, and other criminal organizations continuing to operate.

Modern Colombia: Economic Growth and Challenges (2000s CE – Present)

In recent decades, Colombia has experienced significant economic growth, driven by its agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism sectors. Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena have become major cultural and economic centers in Latin America.
However, Colombia still faces significant challenges, including social inequality, poverty, and ongoing violence in certain regions. The country continues to work towards consolidating peace, improving security, and addressing the needs of marginalized communities, particularly in rural areas.
Colombia’s biodiversity and its role in international environmental discussions have also gained attention, as the country plays a key role in protecting the Amazon rainforest and addressing global environmental challenges.