Their political and social structure was based oncacicazgos, a federation of tribes led by acacique, with different social classes. Their main activity was plantingmaize,beans,yuca,arracacha,cotton,agave,tobacco,tomato,pineapple andguava, among others. Their agricultural skills were sufficiently developed to take advantage of the different mountainous terrains. The Guanes utilizedterraces and an artificial system ofirrigation. They had a knowledge of arts and crafts based on ovens to produceceramics. They had cotton to make clothing and accessories such as hats and bags.
Spanish conquerorAntonio de Lebrija led the first expedition through the area in 1529. The area was later invaded c. 1532 byGermanAmbrosius Ehinger in a quest to findEl Dorado. This disrupted or destroyed many of the Amerindian villages. Some ethnic groups like the Yariguíes, Opones, and Carares fought the conquerors until they became extinct. ExplorerGonzalo Jiménez de Quesada later went to the area in an effort to appease the tribes. The colonization process in the area was started byMartín Galeano who founded the village ofVélez on July 3, 1539 andPedro de Ursúa andOrtún Velázquez de Velasco founded the village ofPamplona (now part of theNorte de Santander Department) in 1549.
Once theAmerindian tribes were dominated, the Spanish organized the territory based onCabildos (councils) to maintain the dominance and administer justice in the conquered territory. Amerindians were assimilated and subject to the encomienda regime to work in agriculture, manufacturing goods, and mines. These two villages functioned as centers for the Cabildos' territories. In 1636 the Cabildo of Vélez was transferred to a new jurisdiction centered on the village ofGirón, comprising from theSogamoso River, andRío del Oro to theMagdalena River. The village ofSan Gil was created in 1689, segregated from the Jurisdiction of Vélez. In 1789 the village ofSocorro was also segregated from Vélez and they were all put under the mandate of theProvince of Tunja, a subdivision of theViceroyalty of New Granada. On July 9, 1795 thecorregimiento of Vélez – San Gil – Socorro was created due to the unsustainability of the Province of Tunja, and local government was established in the village of Socorro.
The department's culture descends from a mix of Spanish and Chibcha influences, particularly in the south where the Muisca controlled territory and in theChicamocha Canyon where theGuane are situated. During the colony and independence war times, people from Santander were especially recognized for their bravery in battle and their policy of "not even a step back". Soldiers from Santander were valued and respected but also difficult to control as they were, in general, more politically aware than people from other regions and therefore prone to question orders and law.[citation needed]
Among the most outstanding and representative artists of the Santander Department isOscar Rodríguez Naranjo.
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