History of Panama

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/history-of-panama

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was History of Panama built?Panama City founded August 15, 1519, by Pedro Arias Dávila
2. What is the canal transfer?Full Panamanian control achieved December 31, 1999, per Torrijos-Carter Treaties
3. What is the economic pillars?Canal operations, financial services, logistics, tourism, and trade
4. What made Panama such a special place for explorers and traders?Panama is a narrow strip of land that connects North and South America, giving the shortest overland route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This made it a key spot for Spanish ships carrying silver and gold from the Americas to Europe.
5. Who was the first European to cross Panama and what did he find?Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed Panama in 1513 and was the first to see the Pacific Ocean, claiming it for Spain.

Geopolitics: The study of the influence of geography on international relations and politics.
Torrijos-Carter Treaties: Agreements signed in 1977 that transferred control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama.
Neo-Panamax Vessels: Ships large enough to transit the expanded Panama Canal locks, representing the largest class of cargo ships.