The History of Panama (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations)

About this book

As the narrowest stretch of land in the Central American isthmus Panamas geographical location has for millenia made it the crossroads for traders travelers European pirates and world superpowers. Panamanian history is replete with explicit or tacit domination by others. In the post-Columbus period Panama was first a Spanich colony then a province of Colombia and then finally a quasi-territory of the United States during the 20th century. Suffering invasion by the United States in 1989 to oust dictator Manuel Noriega and then receiving full ownership of the Panama Canal at the end of 1999 Panama has rebuilt itself into a strong if contentious democracy. This work chronicles and highlights the key events and figures in the countrys past 500 years of history from Columbus to current day. It begins with Panamas colonial period demonstrating how even in its early day the isthmus was seen by the Spanish as merely a transshipment point. It then examines the post-Spanish period when the Colombian province of Panama became a forgotten backwater until European powers began vying for canal rights leading to an ill-fated French effort. The main portion of the book details the events figures and intricacies of the Panama-U.S. relationship which dominated Panamas history for the entire 20th century. It closes with an examination of the gains and challenges the country has faced in the post-U.S. invasion years.