Editing Pre-Columbian era (section)

=== Muisca confederation ===
{{Main|Muisca people}}
The [[Chibcha language|Chibcha]]-speaking communities were the most numerous, the most territorially extended and the most socio-economically developed of the pre-Hispanic Colombians. By the 8th century, the indigenous people had established their civilization in the northern [[Andes]]. At one point, the Chibchas occupied part of what is now [[Panama]], and the high plains of the Eastern Sierra of [[Colombia]].

The areas that they occupied in Colombia were the present-day Departments of [[Santander Department|Santander]] (North and South), [[Boyacá Department|Boyacá]], and [[Cundinamarca Department|Cundinamarca]]. This is where the first farms and industries were developed. It is also where the independence movement originated. They are currently the richest areas in Colombia. The Chibcha developed the most populous zone between the [[Maya civilization|Maya]] region and the [[Inca Empire]]. Next to the [[Quechua people|Quechua]] of [[Peru]] and the [[Aymara people|Aymara]] in [[Bolivia]], the Chibcha of the eastern and north-eastern Highlands of Colombia developed the most notable culture among the [[sedentism|sedentary]] Indigenous peoples in South America.

In the Colombian Andes, the Chibcha comprised several tribes who spoke similar languages (Chibcha). They included the following: the [[Muisca people|Muisca]], [[Guane people|Guane]], [[Lache people|Lache]], [[Cofán people|Cofán]], and [[Chitarero people|Chitareros]].