A comprehensive and up-to-date overview of one of the most complex, interesting, and vibrant countries in Latin America.

Beyond what appears in the news or the facile explanations of political factions, Venezuelan history holds a wealth of knowledge that is largely unknown. With world-renowned figures such as Simón Bolívar, the largest oil reserves in the world, and enormous crises such as the one experienced between 2016 and 2022, Venezuela is a country of contrasts, great achievements, and great problems. It is not surprising that it was the country where magical realism was invented.

Historical Dictionary of Venezuela, Fourth Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section contains cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country's politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Venezuela.

Tomás Straka is Director of the Institute of Historical Research, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas. Member of the National Academy of History of Venezuela. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Chicago and a guest researcher at Pomona College, the Universidad Autónoma Nacional de Mexico, and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He is the author of more than a dozen books on historical topics, essays, and school textbooks. He was one of the authors of the third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Venezuela.


Esther Mobilia, PhD in History from the Unviersidad Católica Andrés Bello. She currently holds the position of director of the School of International Studies at Universidad Central de Venezuela. In 2021, she received the Rafael María Baralt Award for her work Una mitra para el Estado. La personalidad histórica del Arzobispo Silvestre Guevara y Lira (1836-1876). She is the author of several works in the field of Political History and History of International Relations.


Virgilio Armas, is the editor of the magazine Debates IESA. He has been a professor of history at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas.