page_title: History of Panama
section_title: Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien
hierarchical_section_title: History of Panama / Spanish colonial period / Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien
caption_attribution_description: English: Vasco Núñez de Balboa claims the South Sea. XIXth century engraving by unknown artist.
context_page_description: The history of Panama includes the long history of the Isthmus of Panama region prior to European colonization, from Pre-Columbian cultures, through the Spanish colonial era, and eventual independence as the modern country of Panama.
  Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Panama was widely settled by Chibchan, Chocoan, and Cueva peoples, but there is no accurate knowledge of the size of the Pre-Columbian indigenous population. Estimates range as high as two million people. They lived mainly by hunting, gathering edible plants & fruits, growing corn, cacao, and root crops, in small huts made of palm leaves.
  The first permanent European settlement, Santa María la Antigua del Darién on the Americas mainland was founded in 1510. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and Martín Fernández de Enciso agreed on the site near the mouth of the Tarena River on the Atlantic. This was abandoned in 1519 and the settlement moved to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá, the first European settlement on the shores of the Pacific.
  Panama was part of the Spanish Empire for over 300 years and its fate changed with its geopolitical importance to the Spanish crown.
context_section_description: In September 1510, the first permanent European settlement, Santa María la Antigua del Darién on the Americas mainland was founded. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and Martín Fernández de Enciso agreed on the site near the mouth of the Tarena River on the Atlantic.  Balboa maneuvered and was appointed Mayor on the first official cabildo abierto (municipal council) held on the mainland.  On August 28, 1513, the Santa María de La Antigua del Darién mission was erected with Fray Juan de Quevedo as the first Catholic Bishop in the continental Americas.
caption: Vasco Núñez de Balboa claiming possession of the South Sea.
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