History
Until the early 1500´s, the Isthmus of Panama was home to approximately 60 native Indian groups, generally descendants from the Mayas in Mexico and Guatemala, and the Chibcha in South America.
The Post-Columbian era began with the arrival on the Isthmus in 1501 of Spaniard Rodrigo de Bastidas. Columbus explored the Caribbean Coast of Panama in 1502, claiming the territory for the Spanish Crown.
Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien, the first permanent European settlement on the American mainland, was founded in 1510. In 1513, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa sets off with a crew from the Caribbean Coast across the Isthmus, becoming the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean.
With the conquest of Perú, the narrow Isthmus of Panama assumed great importance as a trans-shipment route for Spanish galleons. For two hundred years, it was a focal point of commerce between Europe and the New World. The Spaniards transported gold and silver from Peru, to Panama City, overland to Portobello on the Caribbean Coast, and then to Spain. Unfortunately, the riches attracted the attention of many pirate crews. Pirate Henry Morgan plundered and demolished the City of Panama in 1671. The ruins of Panama Viejo (Old Panama) are well worth a visit.
In 1821, the Isthmus gained its independence from the Spanish crown and became part to Simon Bolivar's Gran Colombia. This military leader convened a caucus in Panama in 1826, for the purpose of creating a great confederation between Gran Colombia, Central America and Mexico. But, he was never able to realize his dream. Gran Colombia was dissolved and Panama became part of Nueva Granada.
The first transoceanic railway was built between 1850 and 1855, connecting the two coasts in less than two hours. In 1880, the French began construction of an interoceanic canal under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps. But they failed in their attempt, as the workforce was plagued by debilitating diarrhea, malaria, yellow fever and typhus, and above all, due to serious financial problems.
Panama permanently seceded from Colombia and proclaimed its independence on November 3, 1903, after a long civil war between the Liberal and Conservative parties. A Government Junta ruled Panama, until the election of the first President, Manuel Amador Guerrero, whose government drafted the Republic's first Constitution. Soon afterwards, Panama signed a treaty with United States of America for the construction of the Panama Canal, permitting the completion a centuries' -old dream of a waterway linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This treaty however was very unpopular within Panama, and lead to much unrest. Several attempts were made to reach a satisfactory understanding between the two countries.
The United States Government in 1914 completed the Panama Canal, one of the wonders of the modern world. As a result of the Torrijos-Carter agreements in 1977, it was transferred to full Panamanian control on December 31, 1999. The Canal measures 52 miles long from Colón, in the Caribbean Sea, to Panama City on the Pacific Coast.
Today, Panama is known for its natural beauty, great fishing, numerous beaches, the more than one thousand paradise islands that make up its archipelagos, and for its friendly, festive, and hospitable people. The magic that captivated adventures over 500 years ago, still awaits anyone who wants to experience Panama.
