Christopher Columbus and Alonso de Ojeda visit Venezuela, which is inhabited by Carib, Arawak and Chibcha peoples.
Nov 25, 1521
Spanish colonisation begins on the north-east coast.
First rebellion against Spanish colonial rule.
Venezuelan patriots take advantage of Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Spain to declare independence.
Independence Act signed.
Venezuela secedes from Gran Colombia and becomes an independent republic with its capital at Caracas.
Venezuela governed by Antonio Guzman Blanco, who attracts foreign investment, modernises infrastructure and develops agriculture and education.
Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabal ousts Marcos Perez Jimenez; leftist Romulo Betancourt of the Democratic Action Party (AD) wins democratic presidential election.
Movement of the Revolutionary Left splits from AD and commences anti-government work.
Venezuela's first presidential handover from one civilian to another takes place when Dr Raul Leoni (AD) is elected president.
Venezuela benefits from oil boom and its currency peaks against the US dollar; oil and steel industries nationalised.
Fall in world oil prices generates unrest and cuts in welfare spending; Dr Jaime Lusinchi (AD) elected president and signs pact involving government, trade unions and business.
Hugo Chavez Elected President
Floods & Mudslides
Floods and mudslides hit the north and kill thousands