Written by two leading historians, this book traces the history of Colombia thematically, covering the past two centuries. In ten interlinked chapters, the authors 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 history presents a thoughtful, definitive interpretation of Colombia's past and present.

Includes maps of: Colombia in the Americas; Colombia in Relief; Provinces, 1810; Gran Colombia; Regions; Political - Departmental Capitals; Population Movements over Time.

Acknowledgments -- Foreword / Pamela Murray -- Introduction -- 1: Origins: -- Crisis of empire -- 1810: Development of the Juntas -- First Republic (1811-1816) -- Final battle against absolutism -- Colombia: the second republic (1819-1830) -- End of an era of change -- 2: Colombian Nations: -- Colombian indigenous population -- Afro-Colombian population -- Other Colombians -- Demography and its numbers -- Colonizers and settlers: the nineteenth century -- Urban country: the twentieth century -- 3: Dynamics Of A Political Community: -- Citizenship -- Rights -- Democratic model and politics -- Government -- Formation of law -- 4: Cadence Of Unity: -- Parties and the nation -- Communion in beliefs -- Common memory -- Single institutionalism -- 5: Conflict: -- Spanish evacuation -- Political conflict in the nineteenth century -- Panama separates -- Conflict in the twentieth century -- La Violencia -- Insurgency intervention -- Narco-violence -- Plan Colombia, 2000 -- Photo essay -- 6: Economic Unity: -- Colonial Colombia compared -- Monopoly and political problems in the eighteenth century -- Coffee -- Percolating twenties -- Oil and industrialization -- National front -- Modern times -- 7: Common Space: -- From horse path to highway -- Steamships and railways -- Aerial cables and airplanes -- Mail and communications systems -- Print media -- 8: Cultural Dynamism: -- Sculpture and painting -- Literature -- Theater -- Architecture -- Music -- 9: Daily Life: -- Popular religious celebrations -- Sports -- Beauty pageants -- Retaking the Colombian urban centers -- Radio, TV, and soap operas -- Gastronomy, Colombian style -- University life in Colombia -- 10: Colombia And The World: -- Early days -- Canal project -- 1928 -- World War II and Jorge Eliécer Gaitán -- Korea and the alliance for progress -- Pope Paul VI and the close of the 1960s -- Contadora, Central America, and Colombia's neighbors -- Uribe and Bush: brothers in arms -- Enter Santos -- Conclusion -- Colombian chronology, 1810-1991 -- Selected bibliography -- Index -- About the authors.