HISTORY
Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, Venezuela was inhabited by indigenous people, including the Caracas, Arawak, and Cumanagotos. In 1498, Christopher Columbus became the first European to explore this area. Spanish began to conquer coastal regions and off shore islands. They named the area Venezuela ("little Venice") because the coastal homes were built on stilts, which reminded them of Venice, Italy. The capital of Venezuela, Caracas, was founded in 1567. The Spanish Crown, which claimed the territory, had control over Venezuela throughout the 18th century. In 1811, congress formed a declared independence following several failed revolts by American-born Spanish elite. This initiated a 10-year struggle to create a truly united and free country. In 1821, the forces of Simon Bolivar were victorious at the Battle of Carabobo, resulting in the establishment of a republic. The republic, called Gran Colombia, consisted of Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. In 1830, the republic dissolved and Venezuela became an independent country.