Vasco+Nunez+de+Balboa

This map shows Vasco Nunez de Balboa's route when he crossed the Isthmus of Panama. This is considered perhaps his best known accomplishment.


 * __Sketch of his Life__**

Vasco Nenez de Balboa was a spanish explorer born in 1475. He was inspired by the success of Christopher Columbus and his travels to the "New World". Balboa wanted to go on a trip of his own to the New World. He traveled along the Columbian coast. He and his crew realized that they didn't have enough men and therefore sailed to the major Carribean island of Hispaniola. He eventually fled and departed to the colony of San Sebastian. He was also known for founding the Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien and also crossed the Isthmus of Panama in order to discover the "other sea". In this case, the "other sea" was the Pacific Ocean. His motivations to explore were partially because of inspirations and curiosity, but also because he wanted to find gold. There was a system where he got to keep most of the treasure he found during his explorations, but he had to give part of them to the king and queen. Over his career, he was the mayor of Santa Maria, and the governor of Veragua. Eventually, he was sentenced to death and died in 1519.


 * __List of Regions He Explored__**

He was the first European to go on an expedition that reached the Pacific Ocean beginning in the New World. He settled on the Island of Hispaniola. He also founded Santa Maria (in present day Panama). This was the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. He also was the governor of Veragua and visited the colony of San Sebastian.


 * __Effect on Local People__**

While at the settlement of San Sebastian, Vasco Nenez de Balboa convinced the remaining colonists that were not killed by other native people to move west. There, he was able to found the town of Darien, which happened to be on the Isthmus of Panama. He became the governor of that town. Over his career, he also participated in many slave hunting expeditions. He could be very cruel and it shows how he was willing to treat the random people he came across. This is further proved because the Indians of Darien would never fight Balboa and the rest of the Spaniards.


 * __Overall Assessment of Historic Role__**

He was important in History because he of his many accomplishments. One of them is that he founded Santa Maria, which was the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. One of his most known accomplishments was that he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and was able to witness the "other sea".