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History of Panama

The first records human life in Panama date as far back as 11,000 BC. These inhabitants were Native American tribes called Cuevas and Cocle. As early as 2500 BC, these tribes were trading pottery with other tribes as far north as Mexico and as far south as Peru. After Spanish settlers first discovered Panama in 1501, the first Spanish settlement was created in 1510.

The indigenous Panamanians were wiped out by diseases brought over by the Europeans. The survivors were forced into slavery. For nearly 300 years on, Panama was a Spanish colony, mainly used as a transit point for gold between Peru and Spain.

Panama gained independence from Spain on November 28, 1821. It then became part of a joint state with Colombia. Encouraged by the USA, Panama gained independence from Colombia in November 1903 after succeeding in a civil war. That same year, president Theodore Roosevelt signed a treaty with Panama giving them sovereign rights over the impending canal zone.

The canal brought herds of migrant workers to Panama City, from China to the West Indies. It is this immigration settlement that makes Panama so diverse today.

After the opening of the canal, Panama turned into an oligarchy controlled by a few wealthy families. A new treaty between Panama and the USA was signed in 1936, but Panamanian citizens grew frustrated with the US' firm grip over the canal zone. In January 1964, student riots throughout the country resulted in 20 people being killed.

An army coup in 1968 overthrew president Arnulfo Arias. In 1977, General Omar Torrijos became the new leader. He was able to convince President Carter to sign a new treaty giving Panama absolute control of the canal by December 31, 1999.

After Torrijos' 1981 death in a plane crash, he was replaced by Manuel Noriega. Noriega's regime was a repressive regime, which lead to the deterioration of relations between Panama and the United States. The US started economic sanctions in 1987.

Noriega was indicted on drugs charges in 1988. Despite this, he was able to annul the results of the 1989 presidential elections where Guillermo Endara came out the victor. This lead the United States to invade Panama in December of 1989.

Guillermo Endara meanwhile was reinstated as the rightful president of Panama, which was soon followed by Noriega's capture in 1990. He was succeeded by Ernesto Perez Balladares in 1994, and then Mireya Moscoso in 1999, Panama's first female president. In 1999, the treaty Torrijo and President Carter signed finally gave the Panama canal to the Panamanian people.

Today Panama continues to develop at exponential rates and has a positive economic future.

History of Panama City

On September 25, 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa became the first European to make it to the Pacific Ocean. This accomplishment meant that Panama would be pivotal in the advances of maritime trade. Panama City was founded five years later in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Avila, a Spanish explorer who settled in Panama.

English settlers soon caught wind of the riches that the Spaniards enjoyed in Panama, and decided to spoil their successes. British settler Francis Drake raided Nombre de Dios settlement in 1572, and Henry Morgan notoriously burned Panama City (modern day Panama Viejo) in 1671. The city was rebuilt several kilometers away in 1673.

In 1846, the USA started building railways across the country. A French company attempted to build a canal through the city in 1881, but went bankrupt eight years later. After Roosevelt's treaty with Panama, migrants started work on the canal in 1904. Many of the workers unfortunately died of diseases like yellow fever, but by 1914, the canal was complete. It was officially opened by President Woodrow Wilson in 1920.

Panama City soon was controlled by a number of rich families. The Panamanian people became upset with the oligarchy system and the USA's control over the canal. This led to riots in 1964. A new leader, General Omar Torrijos, ascended in 1977. He was then succeeded by Noriega.

In 1989, the United States raided and bombed Panama City in an effort to capture the repressive leader Noriega. Unbeknownst to the US, he was actually in hiding in the Vatican embassy. He was eventually captured in 1990.

In 1999, the Panama Canal was officially handed over to the Panamanian people and the capital city. After everything the city endured, the people of Panama City are finally enjoying their ever-evolving economy for themselves.