Venezuela » History

Human habitation of Venezuela is estimated to have commenced at least 15,000 years ago, from which period leaf--shaped flake tools, together with chopping and plano-convex scraping implements, have been found exposed on the high riverine terraces of the Rio Pedregal in western Venezuela. Late Pleistocene hunting artifacts, including spear tips, have been found at a similar series of sites in northwestern Venezuela known as "El Jobo"; according to radiocarbon dating, these date from 13,000 to 7,000 BC. In the 16th century, when the Spanish colonization of Venezuela began, indigenous peoples such as the Mariches, themselves descendants of the Caribs, were systematically killed. Indian caciques (leaders) such as Guaicaipuro and Tamanaco attempted to resist Spanish incursions, but were ultimately subdued; Tamanaco himself, by order of Caracas' founder Diego de Losada, was also put to death.

Venezuela was first colonized by Europeans in 1522, when it hosted the Spanish Empire's first permanent South American settlement in what is now Cumana. Originally part of the most of Venezuela eventually became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru,Viceroyalty of New Granada; portions of eastern Venezuela were incorporated into New Andalusia. After a series of unsuccessful uprisings, Venezuela, under the leadership of Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan marshal involved in the French Revolution declared independence on 5 July 1811. However, a devastating earthquake that struck Caracas in 1812, together with the rebellion of the Venezuelan llaneros, helped bring down the first Venezuelan republic. A second Venezuelan republic, proclaimed on 7 August 1813, lasted several months before being crushed as well.

Sovereignty was only attained after Simon Bolivar, known as El Libertador ("The Liberator") and aided by Jose Antonio Paez and Antonio Jose de Sucre, won the Battle of Carabobo on 24 June 1821. Jose Prudencio Padilla's victory in the Battle of Lake Maracaibo on 24 July 1823 helped seal Venezuelan independence. New Granada's congress gave Bolívar control of the Granadian army; leading it, he liberated several countries and founded Gran Colombia. Sucre, who won many battles for Bolívar, went on to liberate Ecuador, and later become the second president of Bolivia. Venezuela remained part of Gran Colombia until 1830, when a rebellion led by Páez allowed the proclamation of a new Republic of Venezuela; Páez became its first president.

Longer Historical Perspective

Much of Venezuela'snineteenth century history was characterized by political turmoil and dictatorial rule. During the first half of the 20th century caudillos (military strongmen) continued to dominate, though they generally allowed for social reforms and promoted economic growth. Venezuela has had a series of democratically elected governments. The discovery of massive oil deposits, totaling some 400 million barrels, during World War I prompted an economic boom that lasted into the 1980s; by 1935, Venezuela's per capita GDP was Latin America's highest, and globalization and heavy immigration from Southern Europe and poorer Latin American countries markedly diversified Venezuelan society.

The reduction in oil prices in the 1980s weaken the Venezuelan economy; together with rising poverty and worsening social indicators, this led to increasing political instability, resulting in three major coup attempts, two in 1992 and another in 2002. The tenure of current president Hugo Chavez attracted no less controversy, as it accompanied a period of heightened polarization and radicalization in Venezuela that continues to persist.

Venezuela continues to enact a program of wide-ranging socialist reforms while placing more emphasis on the nation's future as a part of a more integrated Latin America.