Muisca History of South America

the fine goldworking of muisca formed basis expedition caribbean coast heart of andes, developed advanced civilisation based on agriculture, salt production , trade

of these indigenous groups, muisca advanced , formed 1 of 4 grand civilisations in americas. inca in peru, constituted 2 developed , specialised societies of south america. muisca, meaning people or person in version of chibcha language; muysccubun, inhabited altiplano cundiboyacense, high plateau in eastern ranges of colombian andes , surrounding valleys, such tenza valley. commonly set @ 800 ad, history succeeded herrera period. people organised in loose confederation of rulers, later called muisca confederation. @ time of spanish conquest, reign spread across modern departments cundinamarca , boyacá small parts of southern santander surface area of approximately 25,000 square kilometres (9,700 sq mi) , total population of between 300,000 , 2 million individuals.

the muisca known salt people , extraction of , trade in halite brines in various salt mines of in zipaquirá , nemocón still important. extraction process work of muisca women exclusively , formed backbone of highly regarded trading other chibcha-, arawak- , cariban-speaking neighbouring indigenous groups. trading performed using salt, small cotton cloths , larger mantles , ceramics barter trade. economy agricultural in nature, profiting fertile soils of pleistocene lake humboldt existed on bogotá savanna until around 30,000 years bp. crops cultivated using irrigation , drainage on elevated terraces , mounds. spanish conquistadors best known advanced gold-working, represented in tunjos (votive offer pieces), spread in museum collections around world. famous muisca raft, centerpiece in collection of museo del oro in colombian capital bogotá, shows skilled goldworking of inhabitants of altiplano. muisca pre-columbian civilisation known in south america have used coins (tejuelos).

the gold , tumbaga (a gold-silver-copper alloy elaborated muisca) created legend of el dorado; land, city or man of gold . spanish conquistadors landed in caribbean city of santa marta informed of rich gold culture , led gonzalo jiménez de quesada , brother hernán pérez, organised strenuous of spanish conquests heart of andes in april 1536. after expedition of year, 80% of soldiers died due harsh climate, carnivores caimans , jaguars , frequent attacks of indigenous peoples found along route, tisquesusa, zipa of bacatá, on bogotá savanna, beaten spanish on april 20, 1537 , died bathing in own blood , prophesised mohan popón.