Muiscas

Who are them?

One of the great cultures of the pre-Columbian era. The muiscas existed from 400 a.d till 1800 a.d.

Geographic Ubication

The Muisca civilization occupied around 18,000 square miles in Colombia´s Eastern Range before the Spanish conquest. 

The Muiscas territory covered basins and Bogota River valleys  to Ten; from Black River to Quetame, from Guavio to Gachala, from Garagoa to Somondoco, from Soata Chicamocha and Suarez River to Velez.    

Economy:

Agriculture:

The principal base of the Muisca economy was the agriculture, they principally cultivated corn wich transformed in the base of their alimentation. They also planted cotton, cassava, sweet potato, pumpkin, hibia, celeriac, pineapple, avocado, coca, snuff, etc...

               COTTON                                          CORN                                              CASSAVA

               

      SWEET POTATO                                PUMPKIN                           CELERIAC

           


       PINEAPPLE                        AVOCADO                                          COCA
         



              SNUFF

HUNT AND FISHING:

The muiscas gathered and eated meat of curi, rabbit, deer, fish and birds. The deer was consumed only by the aristocracy.


COMERCY:

They had frecuent markets publics in places importants like Bacata, Zipaquira, Tunja and Turmeque which had to be performed evrey 4 days.

This let them advance. They they divided and saved money, they saved a part for time of crisis an other part was to make exchanges with other tribes and the last part was for paying taxes.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

The Muisca society was based on a group of families related by blood ties. Its base of social organization was the clan or extended family, characterized by outcrossing.

Polygamous marriages were allowed but only the nobilty practiced it. The residence was patriarchal.

Several clans formed a tribe and its members worked sowings of the Chieftain, who collected the taxes and gave them to Zipa or Zaque, heads of these confederations formed by several tribes.

Confederacy chiefs, tribal chiefs and priests were a higher class.

RELIGION:

Their main gods were Chiminichagua, creative principle or supreme force, Xue, the sun, Chia, the moon, Bachue the mother of humanity and godddess of legumes, Cuchaviva rainbow, Chichacun, General god, Chaquen, god of the runners and Bochica, civilizing hero. 

The lagoons were considered sacred places.

The Taironas

This incredible tribe was created about 2,000 years ago.

When the Spaniards arrived the Taironas moved higher in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. Thanks to this they were save from Spaniards and from the disease they brought.

The descendants of the Taironas are: The Wiwa, the Arhuacos, the Cancuamo and the Kogi.

Geographic Ubication

These Tribe is located in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta which is the biggest mountain of the world close to the Ocean and is declared world Heritage.

Economy

The economy of the communities in the area of the Taironas culture are principally based in agriculture. They cultivated corn, sweet potato, cassava, cotton, fruits, etc.

They also liked the fish and it was one of the basic elements of exchange.


           Cassava                                                                                                     Corn

         Sweet Potato




                                                  Cotton












They also made exchanges with the muiscas and other tribes. In these exchanges the most valuable items were esmeralds, gold objects and stone or shell beads necklaces.

Religion and Mores

Taironas worshiped the stars. They had Gods and Godess such as Gauteovan , mother of all things , creator of the sun and causing spirits of all diseases ; Peico , who came from the sea and teach them to work in gold and earth, to weave blankets and hammocks.

They believed in the underworld and comunicated with the naoma or priest who also controled the religious ceremonies.

Organization

In the Taironas all villages had a Chief who depended of other principal chiefs.

Upon arrival of the Spaniards the Tairona society had evolved into a class system in which economic factors were more important. There was a large group of important artisans and inter-tribal merchants, agents of cultural exchange.

At the top of the social pyramid would be the chiefs. Among the common people , on the basis of the social structure where found job specialists , such as farmers, artisans and merchants.

GoldSmith

The Tairona metalwork is characterized by its technical perfection achieved when developing its work.

Stone Carve

The Taironas worked admirably the stone, not only for extracting large blocks and work them for public works, but for making objects of worship or common use as ceremonial poles, masks, ritual or utilarian axes, etc..