Muisca

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The Muisca (also called the Chibcha more loosely) were an indigenous pre-Columbian culture and ethnic group of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish colonization of the Americas and later colonial communities, many of whose customs lasted up to the beginning of the 19th century and Colombian independence. The Muisca and their descendants today are among the indigenous peoples of Colombia in a process of cultural re-definition and revitalization. They traditionally spoke Muysccubun, a language of the Chibchan language family, also called Muysca, Mosca and Chibcha, which is part of an important revival effort. The first known contact with Europeans in the region was in 1537 during the Spanish conquest of New Granada. In New Spain, Spanish clerics and civil officials had a major impact on the Muisca, attempting to Christianize and incorporate them into the Spanish Empire as subjects. Postconquest Muisca culture underwent significant changes due to the establishment of the New Kingdom...

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