Colombia Chorographic Commission (Comisión Corográfica). Used

Description

The Chorographic Commission (Comisión Corográfica in Spanish) was a scientific project initially commissioned in 1850 by the Republic of the New Granada (a region which is now Colombia) that was initially led by the Italian engineer Agustín Codazzi The purpose of the commission was to make a complete description of the New Granada and its provinces,[1] but there were also economic interests, such as the research and acknowledgement of natural resources, the construction of means of transportation, the promotion of international commerce as well as foreign investment and immigration.[2] In this sense there was also a political interest in the construction of a national identity where the mestizo culture was highlighted and there was a hierarchized representation of racial democracy. The commission took place in two stages; the first between 1850 and 1859, led by Agustín Codazzi, and the second between 1860 and 1862 by Manuel Ponce de León. The Colombian Chorographic Commission was a state endeavor, initially created and financed by the administration of Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera.[3] With the help of a law which was passed in 1839, the Colombian government was able to employ various engineers and geographers to assist Codazzi in his journey after eleven years the commission was finally ready to embark on their adventure.[4] The delay was because of the political instability. The commission would ultimately because of this very reason of political instability.[5] During the operation of the commission, 1850-1860, it experienced the political instability first hand. By the means of administration changes and civil wars. Which would effect the commissions funds, which was very important for the success of the commission.[4]