History of Venezuela

Christopher Columbus encountered Venezuela, on his third voyage to the New World in 1498.

Venezuela was colonised by Spain in 1522. In what is now the city of Cumaná, Spain established their first permanent South American settlement.

At the time of the Spanish arrival, the indigenous people were mainly agriculturists and hunters living in groups along the coast, the Andean mountain range, and along the Orinoco River. Nueva Toledo, the first permanent Spanish settlement in South America, was established in Venezuela in 1522.

During the 16th and 17th century, the provinces which constitute today's Venezuela were relatively neglected.

In the 18th century, a second Venezuelan society formed along the coast when cocoa plantations were established, this time manned by much larger importations of African slaves.