The History of Colombia: Conflict, Cartels, and Change — Fexingo History cover art

The History of Colombia: Conflict, Cartels, and Change — Fexingo History

The History of Colombia: Conflict, Cartels, and Change — Fexingo History

By: Fexingo
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Colombia’s history is a tapestry of pre-Columbian civilizations, Spanish conquest, independence struggles, and a modern era defined by violence and resilience. From the Muisca confederation and the legend of El Dorado to the brutal conquest led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Lucas and Luna trace the roots of a nation forged in gold and blood. The colonial era under the Viceroyalty of New Granada gave way to the revolutionary visions of Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula Santander, whose rivalries shaped the Gran Colombia experiment. The 19th century saw a cascade of civil wars—the Thousand Days’ War (1899–1902) and the rise of coffee as an economic backbone. The 20th century brings La Violencia (1948–1958), a bipartisan slaughter that killed hundreds of thousands, and the fragile National Front pact. Then come the drug cartels: Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel, the Cali Cartel, and the ensuing narco-state that entangled guerrillas (FARC, ELN), paramilitaries, and the U.S. War on Drugs. The show examines peace processes, the 2016 accord, and the ongoing struggle for justice amid coca, corruption, and displacement. Through archaeological sites like San Agustín, colonial gems like Cartagena, and modern cities like Medellín, Lucas and Luna unpack how Colombia’s past pulses in its present. This is not a simple story of violence; it is one of adaptation, culture, and the enduring search for paz. #Colombia #SouthAmerica #FexingoHistory #History #WorldHistory #Podcast #PabloEscobar #FARC #LaViolencia #SimNBolVar #GranColombia #Muisca #ElDorado #Coffee #NarcoState #PeaceProcess #Cartagena #Medellin Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved. Hourly Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Colombia's 1850s Liberal Revolution: Church, Land, and State

    Colombia's 1850s Liberal Revolution: Church, Land, and State
    Jul 4 2026
    In the mid-19th century, Colombia underwent a radical transformation. Under President José Hilario López, a wave of liberal reforms abolished slavery, ended the church's monopoly on education, and seized vast ecclesiastical properties. This episode follows the reformist firebrands—the Gólgotas—led by young intellectuals like Manuel Murillo Toro and Salvador Camacho Roldán. We explore the 1851 civil war triggered by conservatives and clergy, the 1853 constitution that introduced federalism and universal male suffrage, and the backlash that culminated in the 1854 coup by General José María Melo. These reforms reshaped Colombia's political landscape, setting the stage for the federalist wars of the later 19th century. We also examine the economic impact: the breakup of church lands fueled coffee expansion but also concentrated wealth in new hands. A forgotten moment in Colombian history that echoes into the present. #ColombiaHistory #LiberalRevolution #JoséHilarioLópez #Gólgotas #ManuelMurilloToro #SalvadorCamachoRoldán #1851CivilWar #1853Constitution #1854Coup #GeneralJoséMaríaMelo #SlaveryAbolition #ChurchLands #AntiClericalism #Federalism #CoffeeHistory #19thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • Colombia's 1928 Banana Massacre: The Strike That Changed a Nation

    Colombia's 1928 Banana Massacre: The Strike That Changed a Nation
    Jul 4 2026
    In 1928, thousands of Colombian banana workers in the town of Ciénaga, Magdalena, went on strike against the United Fruit Company, demanding better working conditions and fair wages. What followed was one of the most infamous episodes in Colombian history: the Banana Massacre. The Colombian government, under President Miguel Abadía Méndez, sent in the army under General Carlos Cortés Vargas, who ordered troops to fire on a peaceful crowd. The death toll remains disputed, ranging from dozens to possibly thousands. This episode explores the strike's origins, the role of the United Fruit Company, the massacre itself, and its lasting impact on Colombian politics, labor movements, and the collective memory of a nation. We also delve into the controversy around the number of dead, the government's cover-up, and how the massacre later inspired literary works like Gabriel García Márquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.' #Colombia #UnitedFruitCompany #BananaMassacre #Ciénaga #MiguelAbadíaMéndez #GeneralCortésVargas #1928 #LaborHistory #Marxist #GabrielGarcíaMárquez #OneHundredYearsOfSolitude #Magdalena #SantaMarta #Strike #Imperialism #SouthAmerica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • Colombia's Coffee Boom: The Colonización Antioqueña

    Colombia's Coffee Boom: The Colonización Antioqueña
    Jul 3 2026
    This episode of The History of Colombia: Conflict, Cartels, and Change dives into the Colonización Antioqueña, the massive migration that turned Colombia's western mountains into the world's coffee capital. Lucas and Luna explore how settlers from Antioquia pushed into the rugged terrain of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, carving farms out of jungle and establishing towns like Manizales and Pereira. They discuss the role of the muleteer Francisco Romero in spreading coffee cultivation, the founding of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros in 1927, and how coffee transformed Colombia's economy and identity. The episode also touches on the social impact—land concentration, colonization of indigenous lands, and the rise of a rural middle class. A vivid look at how a bean built a nation. #Colombia #Coffee #ColonizaciónAntioqueña #Antioquia #Caldas #Quindío #Risaralda #Manizales #FranciscoRomero #FederaciónNacionalDeCafeteros #CoffeeBoom #ColombianHistory #LatinAmericanHistory #Settlement #Agriculture #History #FexingoHistory #SouthAmerica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
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