Pre-Columbian Period
Pre-Columbian Colombia, was host to a broad range of indigenous peoples, with a population size ranging from 850,000 to four million – according to historian estimates. Additionally, these indigenous populations had varying levels of civilization: on one end of the spectrum, there existed hunter-gatherer groups living in the tropical rain forest, and on the other advanced groups such as the Tairona and Muisca, living at high altitudes. In between, there were several organized indigenous groups called chiefdoms, that were frequently at war with each other and supposedly practiced cannibalism.
The Tairona, one of the two more advanced civilized groups, inhabited the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and had complex societies, with chiefdom hierarchies, stone road systems, advanced agricultural (composed of irrigational and terrace systems), well established trading systems, and artifact production. The Muisca, the other advanced group, were distributed along the eastern highlands of central Colombia, with most of the population living at an altitude of 8,250 feet. The Muisca, like the Tairona, also had complex chiefdom hierarchies, and they were adept at and dependent on the growth of high altitude crops, such as maize and potatoes. Additionally, at lower altitudes, the Muisca also grew cotton and coca crops. …show more content…
Colombia currently has a population of 46,736,728 people (30th in the world), composed of 84.2% white, 10.4 % Afro-Colombian, and 3.4% Amerindian. Additionally, Colombia’s population growth rate is 1.04%, with an infant mortality rate <1% and an average life expectancy of 75.48 years. Colombia now boasts a growing economy (with a GDP growth of more than 4% per year for the past four years) comprised of coal (fourth largest exporter in the world) and oil (fourth largest oil producer in Latin America); however, Colombia faces economic challenges rooted in the nations infrastructure inequality, poverty (32% below the poverty line), drug trafficking, and instability. Colombia also produces agricultural products such as coffee (third largest producer in the world), bananas, rice, tabacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, etc. Additionally, Colombia also plays a role in the textile industry, food processing, clothing and footwear, gold, and
Pre-Columbian Colombia, was host to a broad range of indigenous peoples, with a population size ranging from 850,000 to four million – according to historian estimates. Additionally, these indigenous populations had varying levels of civilization: on one end of the spectrum, there existed hunter-gatherer groups living in the tropical rain forest, and on the other advanced groups such as the Tairona and Muisca, living at high altitudes. In between, there were several organized indigenous groups called chiefdoms, that were frequently at war with each other and supposedly practiced cannibalism.
The Tairona, one of the two more advanced civilized groups, inhabited the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and had complex societies, with chiefdom hierarchies, stone road systems, advanced agricultural (composed of irrigational and terrace systems), well established trading systems, and artifact production. The Muisca, the other advanced group, were distributed along the eastern highlands of central Colombia, with most of the population living at an altitude of 8,250 feet. The Muisca, like the Tairona, also had complex chiefdom hierarchies, and they were adept at and dependent on the growth of high altitude crops, such as maize and potatoes. Additionally, at lower altitudes, the Muisca also grew cotton and coca crops. …show more content…
Colombia currently has a population of 46,736,728 people (30th in the world), composed of 84.2% white, 10.4 % Afro-Colombian, and 3.4% Amerindian. Additionally, Colombia’s population growth rate is 1.04%, with an infant mortality rate <1% and an average life expectancy of 75.48 years. Colombia now boasts a growing economy (with a GDP growth of more than 4% per year for the past four years) comprised of coal (fourth largest exporter in the world) and oil (fourth largest oil producer in Latin America); however, Colombia faces economic challenges rooted in the nations infrastructure inequality, poverty (32% below the poverty line), drug trafficking, and instability. Colombia also produces agricultural products such as coffee (third largest producer in the world), bananas, rice, tabacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, etc. Additionally, Colombia also plays a role in the textile industry, food processing, clothing and footwear, gold, and