Page 65 - Key to Social Studies 6

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Some Major Cities in Colombia Colombia in the Past vs. the Present

Bogotá
Colombia in the Past
Bogotá is not just the capital of Colombia;
Colombia acted in early civilizations as a pathway from Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to the Andes
it is the largest city in the country with
and Amazon Basin, for those who tried to reach South America for its climate and resources.
almost 7 million people living inside the
Native Americans, people who lived in the area of South and North America before the European
city’s borders.
voyages, lived in the region of present day Colombia around 12,500 B.C.E. This civilization was based
Before being named Bogotá, the city was
mainly on hunting tribes, such as the Muisca, Zenú, Quimbaya, and Tairona.
inhabited by the people of Muisca, who
Colombia in the Present
discovered the city and named it Thybzaca
Gaining its independence in July 1810, Colombia aimed to urbanize, or to build on land in the
or “old town.”
countryside so that the area becomes part of a town or city, most of the country and its economy grew
Later, the Spanish took over the city and
signi cantly. The agriculture industry shrank, in return of the growth of both the services and the
announced it as the capital of the New
manufacturing industries. Colombia is the third most populated country in South America, with almost
Kingdom of Granada. In August 1819, the
View of Bogotá 50 million people.
city became the capital of independent

Colombia.

Village of the Kogi Indians in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada
Cartagena

Cartagena was the port city that the

Spanish used for their trade between their

colonies.

Today, Cartagena is the fth-largest city in

Colombia, having a population of almost

one million. Tourism, petrochemicals, and

maritime industry, or anything related to
sea and ships, are its main sources of

income.

View of Cartagena
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