Colombia officially the Republic of Colombia is a sovereign state largely situated in the north of South America, with land, and territories in North America. Colombia is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the west by the Pacific.
Key cities in Colombia include: Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranqilla, Cartagena, Cucuta, Ibague, Preira, Soledad.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
The history of Colombia includes the settlements and society by indigenous peoples, most notably, the Muisca Confederation, Quimbaya Civilization, and Tairona Chiefdoms; the Spanish arrived in 1499 and initiated a period of annexation and colonization, most noteworthy being Spanish conquest of the Muisca; ultimately 90% of Colombians profess of the Christian faith, with 5% being atheists, and an additional 5% practicing other beliefs. Religion in the country portrays the plurality of its cultural heritage, influenced by Spanish Colonization, Native American heritage, and Afro-Colombian roots alike.
Brief Country History
The modern Bogotá is believed to be inhabited by communities of hunters as early as 10,000 BC. At the start of the first millennium BC, groups of Amerindians have built up the so-called “cacicazgos”. These are political systems headed by caciques in which the two most complexes are the Tayronas and Muiscas. In the late 1490s, Spain began its discovery of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Its first permanent settlement was established at Santa Marta in 1525. The Viceroyalty of New Granada was finally restored in 1739 which includes several northwestern provinces of South America such as Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador. Consequently, Colombia became one of the main administrative centers of Spain in the western hemisphere. After a long battle for sovereignty, the country’s independence was ultimately declared on July 20, 1810, through the leadership of Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander. These 2 heroes became the first president and vice-president of Colombia in 1819.
After Colombia gained its independence from Spain, internal issues regarding politics and territorial divisions continue to take place. Probably the most historic city in the history of Colombia is the “Thousand Days Civil War” that led to the establishment of Panama as a nation in 1903. A period of public violence known as La Violencia overwhelmed the capital city of Bogotá between 1940 and 1950, mainly because of the assassination of the Liberal presidential contender Jorge Bogotazo. In the late 1980s, the economic and political arenas of Colombia were particularly influenced by powerful and aggressive drug cartels. In 1991, the new Colombian Constitution was ratified with key provisions on the nation’s human, gender, ethnic and political rights. The current government of President Alvaro Uribe has Bush have initiated significant improvements to ensure public security.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
Languages of Colombia. More than 99.2% of Colombians speak the Spanish language; also 65 Amerindian languages, 2 Creole languages and the Romani language are spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands. In Colombia the spoken language is Spanish and the written language is Spanish.
Important Types of Commerce in Colombia
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds, shipbuilding, electronics, home appliance, and furniture.
Language Services US and others will provide working with Colombia
Translations and interpretations are extremely important for a conference/ meeting that will include attendees from all over the world. Colombia has plenty to offer as far as business and leisure, making it an ideal option. The only way that communications can go smoothly will be if translators are present in order to handle any languages that may need interpretations. Spanish being the primary language of the country translation/ interpretation of English is a must to handle a business meeting or conference smoothly. Spanish interpreters not only have an excellent idiomatic command of the Spanish language and of the other languages they work with, but also a great cultural knowledge of the Colombian society, which means they are able to provide you with the most accurate and the highest quality Spanish interpretation services.