Venezuela's rich history is shaped by the combination of ancient civilizations and modern-day life. Venezuela was home to several significant pre-Columbian civilizations. One important civilization is the Timoto-Cuica. This group took over the Andean region of western Venezuela. Another important civilization is the Muisca. Europeans first encountered Venezuela during Christopher Columbus's third voyage in 1498. Spain primarily colonized Venezuela, beginning with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1498. The Spanish continued their rule until 1821. In 1811, Venezuelan leaders declared independence. This marked the establishment of the First Republic of Venezuela. When Simon Bolivar arrived, he began a campaign in 1812 that aimed to free Venezuela from Spanish rule. He achieved success, and by August 1813, he was able to re-establish the Second Republic of Venezuela. But this was short-lived when the Spanish forces decided to fight back. In 1814 Bolivar forces’s were defeated, and Venezuela went back under Spanish control. But Bolivar did not give up in 1816 he returned back to Venezuela to strike for independence. On June 1821 it was the battle of the Carabobo. This was one of Venezuela's biggest in history. Venezuela is a culturally diverse country the population of Venezuela includes a mix of ethnic groups. Some of the ethnic groups are Mestizo, Wayuu, Pemon, Yekuana, Yanomami, Europeans, and Africans. Ethnic groups play a big part in Venezuela's history. They connect to the country's complex history of colonization, cultural exchange, slavery, and migration. In modern-day Venezuela Venezuelan citizens speak Spanish (official) 98.2%, Indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 est.) Most Venezuelans are of European, indigenous, and/or African descent. Some of the religions in Venezuela are Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and small communities of Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. Venezuela has a young population with a median age of about 30 years with a large percentage of the population is under the age of 30. Venezuela’s history, and cultural diversity, continue to shape Venezuela and the challenges Venezuela will face in the modern world.