More settlers began arriving to this Spanish colony, and eventually Camino Real (or royal road), the first trail across Panama's isthmus, was established. Spain soon began using this shortened route as an alternative to the time-consuming and dangerous sea-voyage around the tip of South America.

1 - Bocas Del Toro Province	6 - Herrera Province Map
2 - Chiriquí Province Map	7 - Los Santos Province Map
3 - Coclé Province Map	8 - Panamá Province Map
4 - Colon Province Map	9 - San Blas Province Map
5 - Darién Province Map	10 - Veraguas Province Map

Importance

The Spanish conqueror Pizarro used Panama as a base from which to launch his invasion and conquest of the Inca Empire. He and his men shipped the booty to Panama City, then carried it overland to the Caribbean, where it was shipped to Spain.

This established a trading route that would change the history of Panama for more than a century, until piracy in the Caribbean made shipping so dangerous that ships took the long route around South America to get to the Atlantic. Panama itself was also a target of pirate attacks since it was a temporary storehouse for so much wealth.

http://history.howstuffworks.com/central-american-history/history-of-panama.htm

http://panama-information.executivehotel-panama.com/in-panama-history.html

HiStOrY

Panama's history has been shaped by its strategic location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. The native Cuevas and Cocole tribes quickly disappeared after the Spanish arrived with their weapons and diseases in the early 16th century. Panama City, on the Pacific coast, thrived as Spain conquered and plundered Peru. Caravans loaded with gold traveled overland across the narrow isthmus from Panama City to be loaded on galleons bound for Spain. However, this wealth attracted pirates and, in the early 1700s, Panama's Caribbean shore was dotted with so many pirate strongholds that shippers chose instead to sail around Cape Horn to Peru. Panama's importance rapidly declined, and Spain did not contest its inclusion as a province of Colombia when that country won its independence from Spain in 1821.

http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar412380&st=panama&sc=5#h34

http://www.facts-about.org.uk/history-and-events-timeline-panama.htm

http://www.facts-about.org.uk/history-and-events-timeline-panama.htm

link

http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Panama/History

hisToRy

In 1501 the discovery of Panama by Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas marked the beginning of the age of conquest and colonization in the isthmus. However, it was his first mate, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who was to be immortalized in the history books, following his discovery of the Pacific Ocean 12 years later.

On his fourth and final voyage to the New World in 1502, Christopher Columbus went ashore in present-day Costa Rica and returned from the encounter claiming to have seen ‘more gold in two days than in four years in Spain.’ Although his attempts to establish a colony at the mouth of the Río Belén failed due to fierce local resistance, Columbus petitioned the Spanish Crown to have himself appointed as governor of Veraguas, the stretch of shoreline from Honduras to Panama.

Following Columbus’ death in 1506, King Ferdinand appointed Diego de Nicuesa to settle the newly claimed land. In 1510 Nicuesa followed Columbus’s lead, and once again tried to establish a Spanish colony at Río Belén. However, local resistance was once again enough to beat back Spanish occupation, and Nicuesa was forced to flee the area. Leading a small fleet with 280 starving men aboard, the weary explorer looked upon a protected bay 23km east of present-day Portobelo and exclaimed: ‘¡Paremos aquí, en nombre de Dios!’ (‘Let us stop here, in the name of God!’). Thus was named the town of Nombre de Dios, one of the first Spanish settlements in the continental New World.

Much to the disappointment of Columbus’ conquistador heirs, Panama was not abundant with gold. Add tropical diseases, inhospitable terrain and less than welcoming natives to the mix, and it’s easy to see why Nombre de Dios failed several times during its early years as a Spanish colony. However, a bright moment in Spanish exploration came in 1513 when Balboa heard rumors about a large sea and a wealthy, gold-producing civilization across the mountains of the isthmus – almost certainly referring to the Inca empire of Peru. Driven by equal parts ambition and greed, Balboa scaled the Continental Divide, and on September 26, 1513, he became the first European to set eyes upon the Pacific Ocean. Keeping up with the European fashion of the day, Balboa immediately proceeded to claim the ocean and all the lands it touched for the king of Spain.

motto

Motto: "Pro Mundi Beneficio" (Latin)
"For the Benefit of the World"

history

The fact that Panama was only a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic and Pacific made the area important to the Spaniards. Sailing from military bases they established along the Panamanian Pacific coast, the Spaniards explored the west coast of Latin America. They conquered many of the Indian lands they reached. The most important conquest took place in the 1530's, when Spaniards led by Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca of Peru. They took gold and other riches from the Inca and from other Indians. Spain built a stone road across Panama to transport the riches from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. The riches then were shipped to Spain.

The Spaniards did little to develop Panama's economy. They treated the Indians harshly and killed many of them. Under Spain, Panama became a center for the distribution of black African slaves in the New World.

In the 1600's, Henry Morgan of England and other pirates attacked Spanish ships and towns in Panama. Many Spanish ships carrying goods from Peru began sailing around the tip of South America to avoid the pirates. Panama declined as a transportation center.

more history

Indians were the first inhabitants of what is now Panama. Spaniards conquered the Indians during the 1500's and ruled Panama for about 300 years. In 1821, Panama broke away from Spain and became a province of the nation of Colombia. In 1903, it rebelled against Colombia and became an independent nation.

The United States played a major role in Panama's history. It built the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914. Many U.S. civilians and soldiers then moved to Panama to guard, operate, and maintain the canal. They lived in a special area bordering the canal called the Panama Canal Zone. The United States took control of the canal and the zone in exchange for payments to Panama. In 1977, Panama and the United States signed a treaty that resulted in the transfer of the Canal Zone to Panama in 1979. Also as a result of the treaty, the United States transferred control of the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. For details on the canal and the Canal Zone.

More History

Subsequent Panamanian history was dominated by the issue of whether the republic would someday gain sovereign control over the canal zone. None of several U.S.-Panamanian–negotiated modifications of the 1903 treaty satisfied Panamanian desire for full control. In 1977 an agreement was reached on repatriation of the zone.

Gen. Torrijos, who negotiated the treaties, was Panama's most powerful leader until his death in 1981. Aristides Royo, president from 1978 to 1982, was succeeded by Ricardo de la Espriella. Nicolas Ardito Barletta, president in 1984–85, was forced out by defense strongman Noriega. His successor, Eric Arturo Delvalle, was ousted in 1988 by Noriega, who then installed Manuel Solis Palma as president. The United States suspended aid and imposed economic sanctions in 1987 following anti-American demonstrations orchestrated by the government. Sanctions were intensified in 1988, after two U.S. courts indicted Noriega on drug charges, and again in 1989, after Noriega annulled elections held in May and installed Francisco Rodriguez as president. An Oct. 3, 1989, coup attempt failed; anti-American incidents increased; and U.S. forces invaded Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, and deposed Noriega.

Guillermo Endara, generally viewed as the victor in the May election, was installed as president. His government later came under attack for staffing the police with former members of the Panamanian army, failing to crack down on the drug traffic, money laundering, and restricting press freedom. He was succeeded in September 1994 by Ernesto Pérez Balladares. This wealthy businessman was the first freely elected president of Panama in 25 years. He had campaigned as the heir to General Torrijos and as the leader of the revitalized party of Torrijos and Noriega. In August 1998, Panama's voters went to the polls and rejected a proposal to revise the constitution to allow Balladares to run for a second term in 1999.

The May 1999 presidential elections were won by Mireya Moscoso. She was the widow of three-time Panamanian president Arnulfo Arias, whose final term in office had been cut short by the 1968 Torrijos-led coup. Martin Torrijos, Torrijos's son and her chief rival, had been the candidate of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary party. Upon assuming office on Sept. 1, 1999, Moscoso became Panama's first female president. In November the United States completed its military withdrawal from Panama. Formal ceremonies marking the transfer of the canal and surrounding land to Panama took place on Dec. 14, 1999; the U.S. presence did not officially end until Dec. 31, 1999. The ceremonies represented the end of the special relationship between the United States and Panama that had existed since Panama gained independence in 1903. Ties between the two countries nevertheless remained close. On Nov. 3, 2003, Panama celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding.

On May 2, 2004, Panama held its first presidential elections since the canal turnover. The winner was Martin Torrijos. He assumed office on September 1. Torrijos strongly supported a proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of the canal that would allow it to handle the largest container vessels. The canal expansion project—the largest in its history—was approved by the legislature on July 15, 2006. It was approved by voters in a referendum later that year.

When a new presidential election was held in May 2009, supermarket tycoon Ricardo Martinelli of the center-right Democratic Change party easily defeated the candidate of the ruling center-left party. His victory reflected voter concerns in an atmosphere of global recession. Among his top priorities were finalizing a free-trade accord with Panama's largest trading partner, the United States, and overseeing the planned expansion of the Panama Canal. He also pledged to crack down on corruption and crime.

History

The first European known to have visited Panama was the Spaniard Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1501. In 1502, Christopher Columbus explored the eastern Panamanian coast on his fourth trip to the New World; one of the ships he abandoned on this voyage was believed to have been discovered off the coast near the port of Portobelo in 2001. In 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the isthmus and saw the Pacific Ocean. Panama's early importance centered on its position as a transshipment route between Spain and its New World colonies. Panama was, as a result, one of Spain's wealthiest colonial centers during the 17th century. A Scottish attempt to establish a rival colony (the Darien Scheme, 1698–99; see Darién) was a dismal failure.

Panama declared its independence from Spain in 1821 and joined Simón Bolívar's Gran Colombia. The economy lagged until the late 19th century, when interest in transportation schemes across the isthmus developed. In the 1880s a French company headed by Ferdinand de Lesseps began to excavate a canal across the isthmus; it later sold the rights to the United States. U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt supported a Panamanian independence movement, hoping for more favorable treaty terms for canal construction. These efforts led to a Panamanian revolt and declaration of independence from Colombia on Nov. 3, 1903. The new government immediately concluded the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty with the United States. This treaty created the U.S.-controlled Panama Canal Zone (see also Bunau-Varilla, Philippe Jean; Hay-Pauncefote Treaty).

Free Trade Zone

The Panamanian Free Trade Zone in Colón, established in 1948, is the largest free-trade zone in the world after Hong Kong. It handled $4.7 billion in imports and $5.5 billion in exports in 1996, primarily electronics, clothing, textiles, shoes, jewelry, and watches. About 60% of imports come from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan; exports are generally destined for Latin America and the Caribbean. In an effort to maintain its competitive advantage in an era of falling tariffs, the zone has modernized its infrastructure and begun to crack down on money laundering. Business in the zone increased more than 15% in 1997. The return of the canal itself provided new economic opportunities. In 1999, Panama signed an accord with Cuba designed to promote bilateral investment. This accord violated the provisions of the 1996 U.S. "Helms-Burton bill," which declared foreign investment in Cuba illegal. By 2001, Panama had also positioned itself to serve as the digital center of South and Central America by providing fiber-optic links to several networks connecting the region to Asia, the United States, and Europe.

Borders

It is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. To the west lies Costa Rica, and to the east, Colombia.

Importance 17th century

Panama's early importance centered on its position as a transshipment route between Spain and its New World colonies. Panama was, as a result, one of Spain's wealthiest colonial centers during the 17th century.

Columbes

In 1502, Christopher Columbus explored the eastern Panamanian coast on his fourth trip to the New World.

1. http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar412380&st=panama

Transportation and communication

Panama is a major center of international transportation by sea and air. About 13,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal yearly. Cristóbal, a suburb of Colón; and Balboa, a suburb of Panama City, are busy international ports. The main airport is at Tocumen, near Panama City.

Panama's merchant marine is the largest in the world. Shipping lines of other countries own most of the ships. These companies register the ships in Panama because Panama allows them to pay lower taxes and wages than do their own countries, and also in order to avoid some safety regulations.

Only about a third of Panama's road system is paved. Most rural roads in Panama have a dirt surface. The country's major road is the Panamanian section of the Pan American Highway. It runs from the Costa Rican border to the eastern part of the country. Another important road in Panama is Trans-Isthmian Highway between Colón and Panama City.

Panama has six daily newspapers. The country has an average of about 1 radio for every 5 people and about 1 television set for every 7 people.

International trade

Bananas, melons, and fish products are Panama's chief exports. Imports include automobiles, chemicals, machinery, and petroleum. The United States is Panama's chief trading partner. Panama also carries on much trade with China and several South American and Western European countries.

Fishing&Mining

Shrimp is the most important product of Panama's fishing industry. Anchoveta, a small fish that is ground into fish meal, ranks second. Other catches include herring and lobster.

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Panama's small mining industry centers around the production of such construction materials as lime, sand, and crushed stone. Large copper deposits lie near Colón and David. However, these deposits are undeveloped.

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Government

According to its Constitution, Panama is a republic. The Constitution grants the people such rights as freedom of speech and religion. Panamanians 18 years of age or older may vote in elections.

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National government of Panama is headed by a president. The president is elected to a five-year term by the people. A Cabinet assists the president in carrying out the day-to-day operations of the government. The National Assembly makes the country's laws. The people elect the members of the National Assembly to five-year terms.

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Local government. Panama is divided into nine provinces and three indigenous territories, called comarcas, for the purposes of local government. The provinces are subdivided into municipal districts. The president appoints a governor to head each province. The people elect mayors and councils to govern Panama's districts. Local government officials in Panama have little policymaking authority. In general, these officials simply carry out policies made by the national government.

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Politics. Panama has a number of political parties. The major parties include the Democratic Revolutionary Party and the Panameñista Party.

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Courts. The Supreme Court is Panama's highest court. It hears appeals from lower courts. It has nine members, who are appointed by the president to 10-year terms. Panama's lower courts include superior, circuit, and municipal courts.

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Armed forces. Panama has no regular armed forces. Security is provided by the Public Forces. These civilian forces are the National Police, the National Air Service, and the National Maritime Service. Together they have about 12,000 members. Service is voluntary.

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Land and climate

Panama covers the Isthmus of Panama, which has an area of 29,762 square miles (77,082 square kilometers). The isthmus extends about 410 miles (660 kilometers) from west to east. From north to south, it measures only about 130 miles (209 kilometers) at its widest point and 30 miles (48 kilometers) at its narrowest point.

The Panama Canal cuts through the center of the country, dividing the land into eastern and western sections. About 98 percent of the people live near the canal or in the part of the country west of it. Swamps and jungles cover much of Panama east of the canal. Only about 2 percent of the people, chiefly Indians, live in the east.

Many wild animals live in Panama. They include jaguars, ocelots, pumas, monkeys, and parrots and other tropical birds. Pine trees are abundant in Panama's mountains. Banana plants and cacao trees are grown in many parts of the country.

Panama has three land regions—the Central Highland and coastal lowlands called the Atlantic Lowland and the Pacific Lowland.

Map of panama

Flag&Coat of arms picture

Land & climate

Panama covers the Isthmus of Panama, which has an area of 29,762 square miles (77,082 square kilometers). The isthmus extends about 410 miles (660 kilometers) from west to east. From north to south, it measures only about 130 miles (209 kilometers) at its widest point and 30 miles (48 kilometers) at its narrowest point.

The Panama Canal cuts through the center of the country, dividing the land into eastern and western sections. About 98 percent of the people live near the canal or in the part of the country west of it. Swamps and jungles cover much of Panama east of the canal. Only about 2 percent of the people, chiefly Indians, live in the east.

Many wild animals live in Panama. They include jaguars, ocelots, pumas, monkeys, and parrots and other tropical birds. Pine trees are abundant in Panama's mountains. Banana plants and cacao trees are grown in many parts of the country.

Panama has three land regions—the Central Highland and coastal lowlands called the Atlantic Lowland and the Pacific Lowland.

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=122&cn=Panama

Panama

The flag of Panama, most recently adopted on 20 December 1903, features a panel of red in the upper right-hand corner and a panel of blue in the bottom left-hand corner. In the upper corner is a blue star, and in the bottom, a red star. Blue represents the Conservative Party, and red, the Liberal Party, the two traditional political parties established with the Republic of Panama. The blue star also represents purity and honesty as necessary parts of civilian life; the red star represents the government, its law, and its authority.

capital,languge,officialname

Capital: Panama City.

Official language: Spanish.

Official name: Republica de Panama (Republic of Panama)

flag & coat of arms info.

Panama's flag, at left, was adopted in 1903. Its blue star in the upper-left corner stands for honesty and purity. The flag's red star in the bottom-right corner symbolizes authority and law. The country's coat of arms, at right, bears Latin words meaning For the Benefit of the World. This motto refers to the role of the Panama Canal.

http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar412380&st=panama

Panama

Panama is a small country in Central America that has worldwide importance as a transportation center. It covers the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow strip of land that separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans near the middle of the Western Hemisphere. The Panama Canal cuts through the isthmus, connecting the two oceans. Thousands of ships use the canal each year to pass from one ocean to the other. By doing so, they avoid a long trip around the southern tip of South America. Thus, Panama plays a key role in the world's transportation system. The country is sometimes called the Crossroads of the World because of this role.

Econamy

Economic activity in Panama varies according to location. Near the Panama Canal, the economy is based on business generated by the waterway, and on commerce, trade, manufacturing, and transportation. In most of the rest of Panama, the economy is based on agriculture.

The Panama Canal is the most important single factor in the country's economy. But agriculture employs more people than does any other single economic activity. The economy operates as a free enterprise system.

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The Panama Canal is the most important single factor in the country's economy. Tolls from ships that pass through the canal contribute millions of dollars annually to the Panamanian economy. The Panama Canal also directly and indirectly provides jobs for many Panamanians. The jobs include positions related to the operation and maintenance of the canal. They also include jobs in stores and other businesses that exist because of the economic activity generated by the canal.

A pseudonym is a fake name. I put down a random name. My fake name is Frog131.