Bogotá's History

The firsts settlers of were now is the nationals capital and its surroundings were the muiscas, who lived in villages and settlements among the Sumapaz’s mass and the Cocuy’s snow-covered. They cultivated potatoes, yucca, corn, tobacco and variety of flowers and vegetables. Also they were dedicated to the exploitation of salt and emeralds, which served them to trade with other tribes.

They divided into two big groups: one located at the northwest led by the “Zipa” since Bacatá, now days Bogotá, and whose religious center was located at Chia, where they worshiped the moon. Other was at the northeast led by the “Zaque” since Hunza, now days Tunja, and whose religious center was located in Sogamoso, were was the center of the sun. Some archeological monuments demonstrate that the muiscas’ priests gave great importance to the astronomy. In Villa de Leyva there are 25 cylindrical columns aligned in East – West direction and the day of the summer solstice looks out into the sun exactly over the Iguaque lagoon, where , according to the leyend, emerged the goddesses Bachué. Also lagoons like: Guatavita, Siecha, Tota, Fúquene, and Iguaque where sacred places, birthplace of myths and legends in which their surroundings were found gold and ceramic offerings.

About 1538, with the arrival of the conquerors, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada solve create a city near the western hills, over 2,600 meters high over the sea level, in an Indian town named Teusaquillo, outstanding by its natural resources and also, protected winds from Monserrate and Guadalupe’s hills. Quesada erected the first housings around of the place known now days as the Chorro de Quevedo. According to the tradition, that day the priest Domingo de las Casas officiated the first mass in a church near the actual Santander’s park, and is told that, the region recived the name of Nuevo Reino de Granada and the city was named Santa Fé. In 1553 at the eastern side of the major square, started the construction of the first cathedral and in the surroundings they localize the council headquarters and of the royal audience.

The religious orders were fundamental in the education. The first university in Colombia, the Santo Tomás University, was founded by the Dominican fathers in June of 1580. In 1592 was founded the Seminary Collegeof San Bartolomé for provide superior education of the Spanish sons. In 1605 the Jesuits founded the Maximums school that was located in one of the corners of the major square and in 1621 started the courses in the Javeriana’s University. In 1783 started the first school for the women in Nueva Granada: the Enseñansa’s school, because until then only men had the right of education.

On July 20 of 1810 was signed at the city the declaration of independence, like a consequence of a plan devised by several notables of the time, who used the borrowing of a vase from the Spanish José Llorente, for generate a fight in which they obtain that in the major square, now days Bolivar’s square, the audience revolt until the Spanish rule gave up.

Since then the Bolivar’s square and its surroundings converted in the epicenter of happenings that transformation the nation’s history. On April 9 of 1948, in the seventh street with Jiménez’s avenue, was murdered the liberal candidate for the precedence Jorge Eliezer Gaitán. This event known as the “Bogotazo”, had great repercussion in the political and social life of the country. Now days the badges of the event were preserved at that place and it can be seen the remains of what were the streetcar tracks.

By: Diana Catalina Márquez