C O L O M B I AC O L O M B I A

Report by: Colombia GroupLit 201 – Literatures of the WorldMarch 1, 2013

Country HighlightsCountry Highlights Capital: Bogota Language: Spanish Currency: Colombian peso Government: Multiparty

Republic Religion: Roman Catholic Population: 47 million (2012) Names: Colombia is named

after Christopher Columbus, was a part of New Granada colony

Colombian ClimateColombian ClimateColombia has many extremes of landscape, and different elevations dictate various climates:

1.Hot zone (tierra caliente) 2.Temperate zone (tierra templada)3.Cold zone (tierra fria)4.Bleak and treeless zone (paramos)

Rainy and dry seasons alternate in three-month cycles. There are two wet seasons: April to June and October to December. Northern areas have one long rainy season, from May through October.

Peoples: AppearancePeoples: Appearance

Most Colombians are Mestizos, Mulatoes, Whites, Blacks, and Native Americans.

Peoples: CostumePeoples: Costume

La Pollera Colora or ‘brightly colored skirt’ for women

Peoples: OrnamentsPeoples: Ornaments

Sombrero vueltiao (hat) for men and

Ruana (cape) for both genders

Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions• Festivals provide the ideal setting to see,

hear and experience Colombian culture. Carnaval de Negros y Blancos Carnaval de Barranquilla Wind and Kite Festival Feria de las Flores or The Flower

Fair

Customs & TraditionsCustoms & TraditionsUnique Colombian Marriage Customs:• No Bridesmaid or Best Man• A Dance• The Coins or Las ArrasFamous food:• Bandeja paisa or "paisa platter" - national

dish• Colombian coffee

ArtArt

• Pre-colonialEarly artifacts were made of clay, stone, and gold. Gold was abundant was used to make ornaments inspired by nature and the supernatural

ArtArt• Colonial: inspired by Christianity

ArtArt• Modern has been

influenced by international art styles with a unique Colombian twist.

Language: SpanishLanguage: Spanish

• Hola – Hello• Adios – Goodbye• Gracias – Thank you• Si – Yes• No – No

Religion: Roman CatholicismReligion: Roman Catholicism

Beliefs: Authority Within the Church The Bible Forgiveness of Sin Hell Mary's Status Purgatory Salvation Saints

Religion: Roman CatholicismReligion: Roman Catholicism

Practices: Baptism Clergy Selection The Lord's Supper Prayer Right to Life Sacraments Statues

Geography: Location & Geography: Location & NeighborsNeighbors

•located in north-west South America. It is the fourth largest country in Latin

America.

Map of ColombiaMap of Colombia

•It is bordered by Ecuador and Peru on the south, Brazil and Venezuela in the east, and Panama on the north-west. It has extensive coastlines on both the Pacific and the Carribean.

GeographyGeographyColombia is a country of contrasts. It has both snow-capped mountains, tropical regions with rainforests, grassy plains, and warm beaches.

• Country:3 major regions:1. The Andean region2. The Coastal region3. Rainforests and llanosHighest point:

Pico Cristobal Colon

Geography: Extremes of Landscape Geography: Extremes of Landscape & Climate & Climate

Bodies of WaterBodies of Water• 2 major rivers: Cauca and Magdalena

•Colombia has both coasts in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Tourist SpotsTourist SpotsMedellin

Tourist SpotsTourist SpotsAmazon Rainforest

Tourist SpotsTourist SpotsCartagena

Tourist SpotsTourist SpotsCiudad Perdida or the Lost City.

Tourist SpotsTourist SpotsMompox

HistoryHistory

• Precolonial: The land was originally home to many groups of Native Americans. Chibcha, a group in the Andes, traded gold and emeralds for the Guajira’s (another group) cotton and salt. Other groups are the Tayrona, Muisca, and Quimbaya.

• 1530s: Spanish conquered the Chibcha for gold, and they brought African slaves to work in sugarcane plantations along with Chibcha survivors.

 

History: Legend of El DoradoHistory: Legend of El Dorado El Dorado is the name of a

Muisca tribal chief who covered himself with gold dust and, as an initiation rite, dove into the Guatavita Lake, and offer gold to their gods.

Later, it became the name of a legendary "Lost City of Gold", that fascinated explorers since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors. No evidence for its existence has been found.

History• 1717: The area became

the Spanish colony of New Granada.

• 1819: Colombia won independence from Spain, led by Simon Bolivar and Francisco Santander. The independent republic of Gran Colombia was declared and it included present-day states of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

HistoryHistory• 1830: This republic has disintegrated and Colombia

(with Panama), Ecuador, and Venezuela became independent nations. During this period, the Liberal and Conservative parties were founded.

• 19th century was characterized by rivalry and armed struggles between Liberal and Conservative factions.

• 1899-1902: War of a thousand days – a civil war over government disagreements. Another civil strife known as ‘The Violence’ flared again in 1948-1959.

• 1980s: Some wealthy Colombians engage in illegal drug trade. The government campaigned to stop this, but has met violent resistance from durg lords.

• Today Colombia is the third largest oil producer in South America.

Featured short story: “Featured short story: “One of One of these daysthese days” by Gabriel Garcia ” by Gabriel Garcia MarquezMarquez

About the author...Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a journalist and fiction writer. His work introduced readers to magical realism, which combines fact and fantasy. His novels One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera have drawn worldwide audiences. He won a Nobel Prize in 1982.

END! GOODBYE!