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Panama History - Looking for useful Panama history information articles? Captain Morgan, Francis Drake, the Panama Canal? Below you'll find the best Panama history articles on the web!

Panama's First Beach Town, Coronado PDF Print E-mail
(12 votes)
Panama History
Written by Ari Vanook   
Wednesday, November 07 2007
Coronado evolved as Panama's first developed beach town. It sits conveniently about forty five minutes to the West of Panama City, via the InterAmerican Highway which, compared to other highways in Central America, pretty much takes the cake in terms of quality.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Contrasts Flourish in Casco Antiguo, Panama PDF Print E-mail
(6 votes)
Panama Culture
Written by Ari Vanook   
Sunday, November 04 2007
It's a neighborhood where deluxe lifestyles of pink champagne and sleek plasma TVs clash with some of the poorer living conditions in the country. A district recognized around the world as a World Heritage Site for its awe-inspiring architecture and rare European-inspired plazas, yet one which simultaneously plays host to children too poor to even buy shoes for sports, and beggars unembarrassed to plead even for a nickel.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The Torrijos-Carter Treaties PDF Print E-mail
(6 votes)
Panama Politics
Written by admin   
Thursday, December 28 2006
Besides diplomats, history buffs, and Panamanians, not many people know what the Torrijos-Carter Treaties are and what they stand for. Excluding the Panamanian Declaration of Independence in 1903, the Torrijos-Carter Treaty is probably the most important document the Panamanian people ever signed. The Torrijos-Carter Treaty is actually made up of two treaties. The first one is called The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal or otherwise known as the Neutrality Treaty. The other is called the Panama Canal Treaty.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
History of Bocas Del Toro PDF Print E-mail
(5 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Wednesday, December 20 2006
When Christopher Columbus sailed his two ships into a bay the Indians called "Caroboro" in 1502, the principal inhabitants of Bocas Del Toro were the Guaymi, Teribe and Bokota indians. He decided to name the large bay he found Admiral Bay or Almirante. Columbus even cleaned his ships in Bocas near island later called careening cay.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Panama's Sir Francis The Dragon Drake PDF Print E-mail
(5 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Monday, November 27 2006
Drake had a burning hatred of the Spanish and Catholicism. Part of this hatred was inspired by his father who was an Anglican preacher back in England. The other reason why he disliked the Spanish was that he was betrayed by the them when he was fixing his ships in a port somewhere in Mexico. The authorities in Mexico told him it would be fine if he made repairs in their harbor. Instead they ambushed him and Drake lost several men in the foray.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The Economy of Panama PDF Print E-mail
(39 votes)
Panama Politics
Written by admin   
Thursday, November 23 2006
The Panamanian economy is a champion of sorts. Unlike other economies that rise and fall and stay down, the Panamanian economy has triumphantly recuperated after stumbling into numerous deep troughs. This ability to stabilize after economic recession is due to the industriousness of Panama's people and its strategic location as an isthmus separating two oceans. In the last 400 hundred years, service related industries tied to transport have always been the most dominant sector of the economy.
Last Updated ( Monday, September 01 2008 )
History of the El Camino Real PDF Print E-mail
(7 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Wednesday, November 15 2006
As soon as he hacked his way through the steamy Panama jungle in 1515, Vasco Nunez Balboa strongly addressed the need to the King and Queen of Spain for a road across the Isthmus of Panama that would link the two oceans. He had no clue that the local Indians had beaten him to it thousands of years earlier. The famous El Camino Real, which the Pirate Henry Morgan used to sack Panama City was just an improved version of a trail that had been used by the natives for millennia.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The 1000 Days War PDF Print E-mail
(6 votes)
Panama Politics
Written by admin   
Monday, November 13 2006
The 1000 days war was a conflict critical to the creation of Panama. If there was no war, Panama would not exist. The war lasted from 1899 and 1902 and was fought between two of the major political parties in Colombia. The factions involved were the political parties Liberal and Conservative. The Conservatives had been in control of Colombia for over 80 years, but the Liberals were eager for their share in the control of Colombia. Note that when we say Colombia in this story we are really referring to Panama, which was just a Colombian territory at that point in time.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
History of New Caledonia PDF Print E-mail
(4 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Wednesday, November 08 2006
A little known fact about Panama is that the Scottish once tried to start a colony here on land that is now part of the Comarca de Kuna Yala in November of 1698. The scheme was dreamt up in 1695 when the Scottish Parliament passed an Act for the establishment of a ‘company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies'. This name turned into the better and shorter ‘Darien Company.' It was a huge fundraising attempt with over 400,000 English Pounds raised in Scotland in six months, with the other half being raised in London. Scotland was having financial trouble due to hundreds of years of wars so they needed a new source of income.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The History of Isla Taboga PDF Print E-mail
(3 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Tuesday, November 07 2006
Nestled in the bay of Panama lies picturesque Isla Taboga, an island about 50 minutes away by boat from Panama City. If you take the ferry you will arive on a long pier. From there you will see a charming village set among narrow romantic streets, a white washed church, and beautiful vistas overlooking the sea. It's close proximity to Panama City makes it a great weekend getaway for people looking to escape city life. If you are lucky enough, you may even see Humpback or Sei whales breaching the surface in exciting displays of bravado while on their migration to and from their feeding zones.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The History of Jews in Panama PDF Print E-mail
(10 votes)
Panama Culture
Written by admin   
Wednesday, November 01 2006
There is no doubt that Jewish Panamanians have become a driving force in the economy here. In order to see just how influential the Jewish community has become, just look through the yellow pages and count how many Jewish apellidos you can find next to large companies. This success did not occur overnight.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The History of the Kuna Indians PDF Print E-mail
(6 votes)
Panama Culture
Written by admin   
Wednesday, October 25 2006
Out of the seven recognized indigenous tribes of Panama, the Kuna are the most organized and independent. They are also the most recognizable. There is no mistaking a Kuna woman. They wear beautiful and brightly colored tapestries called molas around their waists and wrap colorful beads around their wrists and calves. The beads are called winnis and are supposed to protect them from malicious spirits. Bright red scarves adorn their heads and they usually have a black line running vertically down the length of their nose with a gold ring placed through the septum. As we shall see, the Kuna have a very interesting and colorful history.
Last Updated ( Monday, September 01 2008 )
Changes and Evolution in Panama PDF Print E-mail
(9 votes)
Panama Politics
Written by admin   
Friday, October 20 2006
Berthold Seemann was an explorer and naturalist who traveled to the isthmus of Panama in 1849 to take samples of the region's flora and fauna for further study. Along his journey he used a journal to record what he encountered in Panamanian towns in the mid-19th century. The accounts he left behind proved to be an invaluable resource to both amateur and professional historians alike who seek to learn more about the Panama of yesteryear. When this intrepid explorer came to Panama, it was under the jurisdiction of New Granada and had a total population of around 130,000. Many of the observations Seemann made about Panama still hold true today over one hundred and fifty years later.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Operation Just Cause PDF Print E-mail
(7 votes)
Panama Politics
Written by admin   
Wednesday, October 18 2006
In the summer and fall of 1989 the United States had their eyes fixated on the events in eastern Europe which brought an end to the Cold War. At the same time a storm of a different kind was brewing in Panama. Manual Noriega, the dictator who ran the country with his Panama Defense Force was getting out of control and getting wilder by the day. Through his cronies, he had a complete monopoly over the country and had extensive networks within the Medallin drug cartel. As early as 1987 the U.S. Senate asked for the resignation of Manual Noriega, but he didn´t listen. Things got from bad to worse on December 15, 1989 when the National Assembly of Panama declared that a state of war existed between the U.S. and Panama. Service members were harassed and an unarmed marine Lieutenant was killed and his buddy was beaten.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Reggaeton Music in Panama? PDF Print E-mail
(18 votes)
Panama Culture
Written by admin   
Wednesday, September 27 2006
For those of you who don't already know, Reaggaeton is now a serious, established musical form that contains drum-machine beats derived from Jamaican dancehall rhythms, as well as some techno and house beats. While five years ago hardly anybody outside the Latino community heard about Reggaeton, now, it's hitting the mainstream in U.S. cities such as Chicago, New York, and Miami.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Exploring The Cimarrones PDF Print E-mail
(4 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Friday, September 15 2006
When I was driving through the mountainous interior of Panama on Madden Road with Dr. Heckadon a few weeks ago, he said, “around here you'll see a lot of Cimarrones.” I said, “Cima-who”? I was quickly informed that the Cimarrones are the direct descendants of escaped Spanish slaves from the first quarter of the 16th century! These Panamanians can trace their roots to the area for over four hundred years! The mountainous region between Panama City and Colon is Cimarrones central and is where their culture is most prevalent.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
Who Was Captain Morgan? PDF Print E-mail
(7 votes)
Panama History
Written by admin   
Wednesday, September 06 2006
Not many people know the story behind the guy wearing the red cape, blue pants and funny hat on every bottle of Captain Morgan's Rum, probably not even people who love Captain Morgan's. This essay will clear things up for people who thought he was just created as a clever marketing ploy. He actually existed and he was one of the badest dudes to sail the Caribbean. Along with hurricanes and sea monsters, if you were a Spanish captain plying the waters of the Caribbean, an encounter with this guy and his crew would prove to be your worst nightmare.
Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )
The History of Panama PDF Print E-mail
(8 votes)
Panama History
Written by Matt   
Saturday, January 14 2006

Early on in history, Panama was densely populated by indigenous people—among them, the Cuevas and Cocole tribes. In 1501, Spaniard Rodrigo de Bastidas was the first to spot Panama, and with the help of Christopher Columbus, they dropped anchor off the Caribbean coast in Portobelo in 1502. In 1510, Vasco Nunez de Balboa established the first successful colony and became governor of the region. With this arrival of the Spaniards came violence and disease which almost completely eradicated Panama's indigenous population.

Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 )