The Chibcha or Muiscas culture developed on the Cundimarca plateau, in the current Republic of Colombia. This plateau is located in the middle of the Andean chain and determined by two important rivers:the Cauca and the Magdalena. , which fertilize the area.
Chibcha or Muisca Culture Organization
It is probable that this culture was just beginning its progress when the Spanish conqueror arrived in the 16th century. To this date, the Chibcha Culture was organized into chiefdoms or lordships, the most important being:Guantená, Ircá, Hunsa, Tundama and Bacatá .
The government was represented by an absolute monarchy, in charge of chiefs called the Zipa or the Zaque and, whose name varied according to the region where they exercised their governmental administration. These lords had in their power the broadest authority and obedience to them was immediate and supreme, to such an extent that it is assured that there was no ancient people that achieved as much obedience and respect as the lords of the Chibcha Culture.
As for their religion, they worshiped the Sun whom they called Súa, the Moon they called Chía; being its main God Bochica,. whom they considered as the incarnation of good and the civilizing spirit.
Regarding its architecture, there have been no signs or major archaeological monuments. Its constructions were initially made of wood and, later, of stone. It was a town of clever and intelligent men who excelled in pottery and metallurgy, being considered, in the latter, as true masters and craftsmen.
They had intense commercial relations with the Central American peoples, and it seems that they were the ones who made the Incas known in those regions. For their commercial transactions they used a kind of gold coin or yew and held large fairs such as those of Zipaquirá where they exchanged a series of products such as emeralds, salt and cotton. They were excellent farmers, being their food based on corn. The Chibchas constitute a people of transition between the intermediate peoples and the high cultures.