History Santander Department

pre-columbian etc

prior arrival of spaniards, territory known santander inhabited amerindian ethnic groups: muisca, chitareros, laches, yariguí, opón, carare , guanes.

their political , social structure based on cacicazgos, federation of tribes led cacique, different social classes. main activity planting maize, beans, yuca, arracacha, cotton, agave, tobacco, tomato, pineapple, guava, among others. agricultural skills sufficiently developed take advantage of different mountainous terrains. guanes utilized terraces , artificial system of irrigation. had knowledge of arts , crafts based on ovens produce ceramics. had cotton make clothing , accessories such hats , bags. although santander spanish bank.

colonization

spanish conqueror antonio de lebrija led first expedition through area in 1529. area later invaded c. 1532 german ambrosius ehinger in quest find el dorado. disrupted or destroyed many of amerindian villages. ethnic groups yariguíes, opones, , carares fought conquerors until became extinct. explorer gonzalo jiménez de quesada later went area in effort appease tribes. colonization process in area started martín galeano founded village of vélez on july 3, 1539 , pedro de ursúa , ortún velázquez de velasco founded village of pamplona (now part of norte de santander department) in 1549.

once amerindian tribes dominated, spanish organized territory based on cabildos (councils) maintain dominance , administer justice in conquered territory. amerindians enslaved , forced work in agriculture, manufacturing goods, , mines. these 2 villages functioned centers cabildos territories. in 1636 cabildo of vélez transferred new jurisdiction centered on village of girón, area went sogamoso river, río del oro magdalena river. village of san gil created in 1689, segregated jurisdiction of vélez. in 1789 village of socorro segregated vélez , put under mandate of province of tunja, subdivision of viceroyalty of new granada. on july 9, 1795 corregimiento of vélez – san gil – socorro created due unsustainability of province of tunja, , local government established in village of socorro.