Before the Spanish ExplorersBefore the Spanish conquest, Colombia was inhabited by the Chibcha and Cariban, but the first peoples to establish villages were the Mesoamericans. They arrived around 1200 BC. They introduced the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. The main things they grew were potatoes and corn. They also made gold and stone artifacts, and sometimes made grass baskets. They were followed by a second wave of Mesoamericans around 500 BC. In the 1500s, the most advanced culture was that of the Chibchas. These Indian groups depended on agriculture, fishing, and salt mining for their livelihood. They also made clothing and blankets to trade with other tribes. And lived in very well organized small towns connected by stone walkways.Spanish ColonizationThe Spanish invasion consisted of conquistadors, administrators and clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church. The first Spanish explorers to enter Colombian territory were Alonso de Ojeda in 1499 and Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1500. In 1510, Ojeda found Acandí on the west shore of the Gulf of Aruba. In 1538, Jiménez de Quesada founded the city of Bogotá, which is currently the capital and largest city. Traveling from Peru, a man named Belalcázar founded and founded the cities of Popayán and Santiago for Spain.During colonial rule, the social hierarchy was based on three parts: at the top were people of Spanish origin , then the mestizos, people who were a mixture of Spaniards and Indians, and the lowest class was the native Indians. In the colonies, the person in charge was the viceroy. The next jurisdiction was the audiencia, it contained judges and a president, and they controlled the cities. The colonial economy relied on cheap indigenous labor. The main thing that helped the Spanish economy was the mining of precious metals, such as gold and copper. In the late 1700s, tobacco was one of Colombia's most exported products. The growth of agriculture was mainly due to the fact that much of the mineral and metal resources were beginning to be deployed in Spain. The only religion permitted within the colony was Roman Catholic. When the Spanish arrived, the clergymen forced all the Indians to abandon their gods and follow the Roman Catholic religion. They were also forced to speak the Spanish language.Struggle for IndependenceWhen King Philip V came to the throne of Spain, he decided that they were going to have more control over the colonies and demanded that Indian tribute be paid to Spain..