Province of Tierra Firme

Tierra Firme was a Spanish province in the 16th and 17th centuries. It covered parts of modern day Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. It was a very large province and stretched from the Gulf of Urabá in Colombia all the way to Panama and beyond. People who lived in Tierra Firme were controlled by the Spanish government and paid taxes to Spain. Spain also sent people to live in Tierra Firme to help run the province. These people were known as Encomenderos and they did things like gather resources and help with trade.