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The Colonial Era - Coggle Diagram
The Colonial Era
Parcel System
In order to reward the services rendered by the men who undertook the colonizing company, the Crown established the system of divisions and encomiendas.
The system consisted of the Crown distributing the indigenous inhabitants in a certain place among the conquerors or settlers, in payment for their services.
This grace only lasted for the life of the encomendero and his heir. This one had the obligation to take care of the natives, catechize them and watch over their well-being. In the same way, he had to defend the territory entrusted to him.
Raids of Corsairs and Pirates
The other European crowns that were excluded from trade between the Iberian nations with their colonies, had the support of pirates, who attacked not only the ships that transported wealth, but even the various colonies throughout the American continent, A situation that worsened during the reigns of Emperor Carlos V and his son, Felipe II of Spain.
The first pirates and corsairs (French and English) who attacked the Isthmus did so at the mouth of the Chagres River and in Nombre de Dios, limiting themselves only to attacking Spanish ships.
The first invasion to the mainland was carried out by Francis Drake, on the night of July 9, 1572, when with fifty men, he attacked Nombre de Dios, failing in the attempt.
Royal Court of Panama
By Royal Decree of February 26, 1538, Emperor Carlos V ordered the creation of an Audience in Panama, which became the third on the continent.
It included the provinces of Tierra Firme (Castilla de Oro and Veraguas), all the territories that range from the Strait of Magellan to the Gulf of Fonseca (the provinces of Río de la Plata, Chile, Peru, the government of Cartagena and Nicaragua).
Foundation of new populations in the interior of the Isthmus
In order to achieve the full colonization of the Isthmus of Panama, various Spanish settlements were founded throughout the conquered territory.
The first Spanish establishment was Santa María de Belén, founded in 1503 by Admiral Cristobal Colon.
Colonial Regime
Panama was part of the Spanish empire between 1538 and 1821. In the Hispanic colonies in general, two types of laws were applied: the peninsular (the same applied to Spain, adjacent islands and Africa) and the ultramarine or colonial.
Corona attack Panama
In order to ensure that the Crown could not quell the uprising of the encomenderos in Peru, Gonzalo Pizarro arranged to take the cities of Panama and Nombre de Dios.
Introduction of blacks in Panama
The first black slaves arrived at the Isthmus of Panama on the expedition of Governor Diego de Nicuesa who worked to raise the Name of God.
Portobelo Fairs
Initially from 1544, the exchange of goods was made in the Name of God. However, since 1597, this activity was concentrated in Portobelo, which made it one of the most important towns in Hispanic America, becoming an obligatory point for the exchange of merchandise between Spain and its colonies, whose transactions exceeded millions of pesos.
Henry Morgan and the destruction of Panama City
At the end of 1670 he left for Panama with 35 ships and 2000 English and French pirates, which was an unprecedented pirate attack. The taking of the first fort cost him 200 dead and many wounded.
Foundation of the New Panama City
On January 21, 1673, the solemn act of the founding of the New Panama City was celebrated, a city that had to fulfill, on the one hand, with the function of port, therefore, it was located on the peninsula near the insular anchorage of Perico. and Naos and on the other, a defensive area, from there, which will be protected by land by the Ancón hill and a polygonal wall 20 to 40 feet high and 10 thick with two gates.
Scottish Colonization
The Scottish adventure represents an unusual episode in the period of colonization. William Patterson, who considered the Isthmus of Panama as "the door to the seas and the key to the universe", to carry out his objective promoted and elaborated the project of creation of a mercantile company, which obtained the approval of the Parliament of Scotland through the act dated June 26, 1695.
Literature and Culture in Colonial Panama
Throughout history, indigenous groups have modified some of their customs, this due to the social impact of the colonies:
Ngäbere and the Buglere. The Ngäbere alphabet has 26 letters: 8 vowels (a, ä, e, i, o, ö, u, ü) and 18 consonants (b, ch, d, g, gw, j, k, kw, l, m, n, ng, ngw, ñ, r, s, t, y).
The Kunas are unique in their culture and in their political structure, they have always fought for their rights.
The Emberá-Wounaan, their language, their concept of the land, their pride in their tradition and their history.
The Nasos, known until recently as Teribes, their language, their physical features and their character or "way of being", are an example of coexistence with nature, a monarchy with democracy.
The Bri Bri, who now have their aspirations to have a region. They are nomads, but they represent a significant human group with 400 families in Panama.
Decline of the Isthmus
Despite the fact that the terminal poles, Portobelo-Panama, had their splendor long before 1543, their crisis began to manifest itself in the first two decades of the 18th century, with the wars of the maritime powers (France, Great Britain and Spain), and receives its coup de grace in 1739, with the abolition of the system of fairs and galleons.
Installation of the Viceroyalty in Panama
By 1739, the Isthmus of Panama was under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
First Cry of Independence
The beginning of Panamanian independence is located on November 10, 1821 when the town of Los Santos rose up against Spanish rule. Tradition says that at the forefront of this revolt for freedom was Rufina Alfaro, a young woman from the town, who became the symbol of national independence.
Independence of Panama from Spain
On November 28, 1821, after several desertions of royal soldiers, an open town hall was proclaimed where the Isthmus was declared free and independent from the Spanish Crown.