3.  Ancient History-giant mounds of earth, stone statues, and tombs-more than 1,500 years old.

4. El Dorado  Western Colombia-  Gold objects were among the finest in ancient America.  El Dorado-”the Golden One”-New rulers were covered with gold dust and then taken to a lake to wash the gold off. Gold and emerald objects were thrown into the water as the new ruler washed.

5.  Spanish explorers arrived about 1500.  Conquered the Chibcha and took most of their treasure  Spanish set up large haciendas.  Enslaved Indians and then brought African slaves to work the land.

6. Gran Colombia  Late 1700’s-gained independence with the help of Simon Bolivar.  The republic of Gran Colombia was created. It included Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.  1830-New Granada- Colombia and Panama.

7. Bogota –boogy man  Capital-Bogota is in the Andes Mountains.  Cattle ranches are common in the Llanos.

8. 2 nd in the World  Rich soil  Colombian coffee  Bananas, corn, rice, sugarcane.  Cassava  Flowers-2 nd in the world.

9. Emeralds  Oil—leading export today.  Iron ore, gold, coal, and tin  Emeralds-most of the world’s emeralds come from Colombia.

10.  Low incomes  Poverty  Rapid population

11. Tejo-ring toss  African traditions have influenced the music and dance.  Soccer in popular.  Chibcha sport called tejo-a ring toss game.  Spanish is the language  Roman Catholic is the religion.

12. Illegal Drugs  Conflict is a serious problem in Colombia today. Border conflicts with Venezuela. Fight over the Orinoco River  Many farmers have been forced off their land, and the economy has been damaged.  Illegal drugs and violence.

15. Pearls  Small Indian tribes  Spanish conquest- Christopher Columbus-1498.  Forced Indians to dive for pearls.

16. Indigo  Not much gold-  Planted Indigo- deep purple dye (jeans)  Many Indians died (small pox and over worked)  African slaves

17. Simon Bolivar-  Simon Bolivar- led the revolution for independence.  1830-became free of Spain.

18.  1800’s-dictators and civil wars.  Caudillos-military leaders.  Oil-some caudillos kept the country’s oil money for themselves.  1958-last dictator forced out.

19. Oil under Lake Maracaibo

20. Poverty for the majority  1970’s-wealthy from oil. ( only the military leaders and government got rich)  80% of people still lived in poverty.  Shacks, no running water, sewers, or electricity.

21. Caracas  Language-Spanish  Religion-Catholic  Caracas-capital city  Slums circle the cities.  Wide difference-one of the wealthiest countries in South America-but all in the hands of a few.

22. Lake Maracaibo  Based on OIL- Lake Maracaibo – rock under the lake are rich in oil.  Iron ore-steel  Hydroelectricity-

23. Llaneros  Agriculture- farming.  Llaneros- cowboys –herd cattle-  Indians still practice slash and burn.

24.  Pardos-mixed African, European and Indian. 2/3 population.  Native Indians 2%-speak 25 different languages.  Spanish is official language.  Religion-Catholic  Jorope-foot stomping dance-  Toros coleados-rodeo-pulling a bull down by grabbing its tail.  Baseball and soccer.