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

As the narrowest stretch of land in the Central American isthmus, Panama's 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 country's past 500 years of history, from Columbus to current day. It begins with Panama's 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 Panama's 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. Contents......Page 6 Series Foreword......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Timeline of Historical Events......Page 14 1 Panama Is a Canal and More......Page 20 2 Colonial Panama to Independence......Page 30 3 Completing the Canal to World War II......Page 46 4 Panama during the Cold War......Page 64 5 Dictatorship, Nationalism, and the Canal Treaties,1968–1981......Page 84 6 The Noriega Years, 1981–1990......Page 108 7 Democracy and the Canal Gained......Page 138 Notable People in the History of Panama......Page 158 Bibliographic Essay......Page 164 Index......Page 170 Panama Is A Canal And More -- Colonial Panama To Independence -- Completing The Canal To World War Ii -- Panama During The Cold War -- Dictatorship, Nationalism, And The Canal Treaties, 1968-1981 -- The Noriega Years, 1981-1990 -- Democracy And The Canal Gained. Robert C. Harding. Includes Bibliographical References(p. [145]-150) And Index. Examines the post-Spanish period when the Columbian province of Panama became a forgotten backwater until European powers and the USA began vying for canal rights. This work details the events, figures, and intricacies of the Panama-US relationship, which dominated Panama's history for the entire 20th century. Chronicles significant events in the political, cultural, philosophical, and religious history of Panama, and includes a time line, biographical sketches, and a glossary