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Episode 71 · South America

71. Venezuela 101 Part 1/3: Venezuela Before Chávez (1498 to 1988)

56 min·January 12, 2026·101 Episode

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Show notes

What you'll hear

This is Part 1 of 3 of the Venezuela 101 series: a foundational history of Venezuela. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Venezuela from 1498 to 1988, designed for those who know little to nothing about Venezuela. This episode covers:

- Venezuela pre-1498 (Columbus)

- Spanish colonization

- How Venezuela gained independence

- The long road to democracy: caudillos, dictatorships, and more

- The discovery of oil and the oil boom years

- Oil crash and inflation of the 1980s


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Sources used in the making of this episode.

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Topics covered

Colonialism & ImperialismIndependence & LiberationTrade & EconomicsEducation & KnowledgeDemocracyAuthoritarianism