Paribari

Paribari lies in the mountainous interior of central Colombia, where valleys and slopes support maize, fruit and other crops, and paths connect neighbouring river basins. Before Spanish expansion the wider region held Indigenous societies with distinct languages and political traditions, including Muisca and Muzo communities.

Conquest brought armed expeditions, missions and demands for labour and tribute, and disease and violence severely disrupted communities. Mountainous terrain limited movement and the reach of outside power for a long time.