Geohistorical aspects of the Independence War in Venezuela

Abstract

The War of Independence-or Emancipation that unfolded in Venezuela between the second and the third decade of the 19th century, brought deep changes in the landscape of part of the Venezuelan territory. Those effects were significant as regards the demographical composition of the space occupied by the General Captainship of the country, that was composed by regions and microregions in the process of shaping up ever since the first European settlers moved in, and by the colony, a territorial framework that responded to physical, cultural, economical and environmental elements that trascended the administrative division of the territory. A significant part of the Venezuelan territory served as a battle-field in which both groups wrestled either to preserve or have access to the geographical boundaries of the General Captainship. The struggle for the capture of those spaces reached the highest peaks of cruelty and intensity as the confrontation for gaining control over the territories having a prime military, political and economical significance became more ravaging. The devastating effects upon the landscape brought about by the war were emphasized by the occurrence of natural disasters and epidemics that stroke some regions of Venezuela.