MUISCA CULTURE

Among the ancients civilizations of Colombia more important and representative are the Muiscas and the Taironas . First, the Muisca culture was organized in confederations. Each confederation was formed by several towns that were together around an important city. When the Spaniards arrived they found three important confederations:

*Bacata: located where today is Bogotá, your chief were the Zipa.

*Hunza: located where today is Tunja, your chief were the Zaque.

*Sugamuxi: located where today is Sogamoso, your chief were the supreme priest named Iraca.

The characteristic levels of the social organization were the following :

1. The caciques, were the bosses or rulers of each town. They were the most important character therefore they were privileges, a privileges were to use special decorations in the dresses.

2.Los Sheiks, they were the priests. They were taken charge of the cults and to represent the community .

3.Los guechas, they were the warriors. They were distinguished for your courage in the battles.

4.Los proclaimers, they were the interpreter when they met with other indigenous communities.

5.The town, conformed by all the muiscas.

6.Los slaves, they were the prisoners of war.

The political organization of the muiscas is very similar to the current , in each department there is a capital city where the governor lives. In each confederation there was a capital city where the boss lived. Around the capital of a department there is many small populations in which sent the caciques and the usaques.In conclusion, the political organization of our country owes it to the muiscas

TRADE MUISCA CIVILIZATION

The muiscas was excellent farmers, they cultivated corn, potato, bean and fruits like the pineapple, , avocado, and guava.They also hunted rabbits, deers and diverse birds.

They were more skilled that the tairones shovel to spin the cotton and to manufacture very beautiful and well made cloths. With these cloths they elaborated blankets and coats that protected them of the cold.

They made wide variety of pots and vessels of mud which painted and they adorned with drawings of animals. They also worked with gold and they made decorations that nowadays remain in the Museum of the Gold in Bogotá.

They took out emeralds in sogamoso, using pointed bars in wood. They also explored copper locations and gold. However, the treasure but valuable of the muiscas you were the salt the sual they extracted of the Zipa and Nemocon mines.

With the salt they made exchanges or changes of goods with other tribes, the muiscas gave salt and they received gold, cotton, shells and feathers of several colors.One can say that the salt was the currency or money of the muiscas.

Contrary to the taironas the muiscas used the stone to make your constructions. the houses made them with mud and straw; the roofs were made of straw. At the present time there is not anything of the houses and the temples since muiscas were damaged.

COLOMBIA and THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Before of arriving the Spaniards, in our territory inhabited great quantity of indigenous groups with different life forms and languages.Some of these tribes were very backward in your development, since they lived in very isolated regions from which it were very difficult to communicate with other tribes more advanced.

Also inhabited our country indigenous numerous groups with a high development grade and very advanced knowledge in agriculture, astronomy, engineering, mining, goldwork, etc.

The indigenous main cultures that inhabited Colombia before of the America discovery, the order in that they were appearing are the following:

Calima Culture

Since 2.800 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Valle del Cauca.

San Agustín Culture

Since 2.600 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Huila department.

Tumaco Culture

Since 2.500 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Nariño department.

Sinú Culture

Since 2.500 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Bolivar and Sucre departments.

Quimbaya Culture

Since 2.500 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Quindío and Risaralda departments.

Muisca Culture

Since 2.300 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Cundinamarca and Boyacá departments.

Tairona Culture

Since 1.300 years behind. Your members inhabited the territories that today belong to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.