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Christopher Columbus and Alonso de Ojeda visit Venezuela, which is inhabited by Carib, Arawak and Chibcha peoples.
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Spanish colonization begins on the north-east coast.
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First rebellion against Spanish colonial rule.
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Venezuelans take advantage of Napoleon's invasion of Spain to declare independence.
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Venezuela secedes from Gran Colombia.
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Ruler Antonio Guzman Blanco attracts foreign investment, modernises infrastructure and develops agriculture and education.
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Dictator Juan Vicente Gomez governs at time when Venezuela becomes world's largest oil exporter.
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Coup establishes civilian government after decades of military rule.
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President Romulo Gallegos, Venezuela's first democratically-elected leader, overthrown within eight months in military coup led by Marcos Perez Jimenez.
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Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabal ousts Marcos Perez Jimenez; leftist Romulo Betancourt of the Democratic Action Party (AD) wins presidential election.
