The Spanish Era
For more than five hundred years, since the time Christopher Columbus sailed along its Caribbean coast, Panama was viewed as the crossroads of the world. Many countries were interested in that region because finding a way to go through it would shorten the journey around the world. Many nations also wanted to use its location to control and promote trade among nations and to control both oceans. This is the story of how that desire for a passageway became the site of one of the most daring and monumental achievements, and in the end, a way to bring the peoples of the world together.
Not too long after Columbus touched down in the area, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, in 1513 claimed the isthmus for King Ferdinand of Spain. Spaniards began crossing the isthmus carrying the wealth they had taken from the Incas and the silver mines of Peru for ships bound for Spain. They built roads and fortifications on the coast to guard their treasure.
1501
Rodrigo de Bastidas first discovers Panama.
1502
Christopher Columbus sails along the coast of Panama.
1509
Lope de Orlando discovers the mouth of the Chagres River.
1513
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa claims the isthmus.
1519
Panama City founded by the Spanish Basque conquistador Pascual de Andagoya and 400 settlers.
1534
King Charles V orders a survey to see if a canal can be built across the isthmus.
1572
Sir Francis Drake captures the town of Nombre de Dios and its treasure.
1597
City of Portobello founded by the Spaniards.
16th - 18th century Pirates of Panama
British buccaneers raid the Spanish forts and prevent the Spanish from building a waterway.
1671
Pirate Henry Morgan loots Panama City.
1673
Panama City rebuilt.
1815
Latin American liberator, Simon Bolivar, expresses his desire for a canal at the Isthmus of Panama.
1821
Panama becomes a province of New Granada (Colombia).
1835
US President Andrew Jackson orders a study on the feasibility of the canal and from then on American policy toward an inter-oceanic canal is established.
1852
Ulysses S. Grant leads a military detachment of men and their dependants en route to California through Panama.
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