Colombia Before Independence

This book describes and analyzes economic and political developments in Colombia during the final century of Spanish rule. Its purpose is threefold: first, to provide a general portrait of Colombian society during the late colonial period, showing the character of economic, social, and political life in the territory's principal regions; second, to assess the impact on the region of European imperialist expansion during the eighteenth century; and third, to provide a context for understanding the causes of independence. The book offers the only available survey of Colombian history and historiography for this period.

Using previously unexplored Spanish documents, Rebecca Earle's study reveals an entirely new explanation for the collapse of Spanish dominion over Colombia. The author shows how the Spanish royalists inadvertently engineered their own defeat.

Written by two leading historians, this deeply informed and accessible book traces the history of Colombia thematically, covering the past two centuries. In ten interlinked chapters, Michael J. LaRosa and German R. Mejia depart from more standard approaches by presenting a history of political, social, and cultural accomplishments within the context of Colombia's specific geographic and economic realities. Their emphasis on cultural development, international relations, and everyday life contrasts sharply with works that focus only on Colombia's violent past or dwell on a Colombian economy deeply dependent on narcotics--a tragic nation that barely functions. Instead, the authors emphasize Colombia's remarkable national cohesion and endurance since the early nineteenth-century wars for independence. Including a photo essay, detailed chronology, and resource guide, this concise yet thorough history will be an invaluable resource for all readers seeking a thoughtful, definitive interpretation of Colombia's past and present. This updated paperback edition addresses the current peace negotiations in an epilogue titled "Chronicle of a Peace Forestalled?"

"Updated to include the historic 2022 presidential election, this deeply informed and accessible book traces the history of Colombia thematically over the past two centuries. Michael J. LaRosa and Germán R. Mejía move beyond the common perception of a failed state to explore the rich heritage and dynamism that have characterized Colombia past and present"--

A collective biography of the veterans of the battle of El Santuario (1829), this book uses the untold stories of ordinary lives to examine the history of the imperial conflicts that shaped politics and society in Colombia and Venezuela after independence from colonial rule.