  The mathematical theory of knots studies the embeddings of circles into the
space $\mathbb{R}^3$, being the classification one of the fundamental problems.
The introduction of homology theories results in complex mathematical
structures that generate new research opportunities. On occasion of the
Encuentro Internacional de Matem\'aticas (EIMAT) (International Meeting of
Mathematics) to be celebrated at the Universidad del Atl\'antico in
Barranquilla, Colombia in November 2023, in this article, in an expository way,
we offer a first look into Khovanov homology and the long exact sequence of
Khovanov homology. Moreover, we present a summary of the historical origins of
the theory which can take us as early as the year 2600 BCE, passing through
Italy of the XV century, Scotland of the XIX century, and we give references
for further and more detailed discussions. Additionally to showing the
construction of Khovanov homology from the Kauffman bracket polynomial, the
main objective in publishing this article is to attack the language barrier and
popularize knot theory and Khovanov homology in Colombia and Latin-America in
general.
