The History of Venezuela

Alonso de Ojeda visit Venezuela, which is inhabited by Carib, Arawak and Chibcha peoples.

Jan 1, 1499

Spanish colonisation begins on the north-east coast.

Jan 31, 1521

African slaves are shipped to Venezuela to work on plantations.

Jan 1, 1550

he king of Spain is overthrown by France's Napoleon Bonaparte, providing an opening for anti-colonial movements fighting for independence.

Jan 1, 1810

Declaration for Independence of Spaniards

Jan 1, 1821

After a series of bitter battles and short-lived declarations of sovereignty, Gran Colombia - comprising Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador, wins independence from Spain. Simon Bolivar, Venezuela's national hero, plays a key role in the struggle.

Venezuela seperates from Gran Colombia to become an independent country with Caracas as its capital.

Jan 31, 1829

After failing to repay foreign loans, Venezuela's ports are blocked by German, British and Italian warships.

Jan 31, 1902

Venezuela becomes one of the world's largest oil exporters under the leadership of Juan Vicente Gomez, a dictator.

Period: Jan 1, 1908 to Jan 1, 1935

Leftist Romulo Betancourt is elected president. He oversees the 1963 elections, the country's first democratic civilian-to-civilian transfer of power.

Jan 31, 1958

Raul Leoni becomes president during a period of known as "puntofijismo", in which elections are limited to competition between two major parties.

Jan 31, 1964

President Carlos Andres Perez is elected president as Venezuela seeks loans from the International Monetary Fund to prop up its economy.

Jan 31, 1989

Hugo Chavez, then a military officer, leads a failed coup attempt and is jailed.

Jan 31, 1992

Chavez is freed from prison and forms a new political party.

Jan 31, 1994

Hugo Chavez is elected president

Jan 31, 1998

Chavez takes office promising to reduce poverty and corruption.

Jan 31, 1999

Hugo Chavez creates a stable and improving economy

Period: Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, 2011