Final answer:
Panama's significant historical events include the construction of the Panama Canal, its independence from Colombia facilitated by the U.S. for the canal's construction, and its transition to democracy and economic development with a focus on international trade and banking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three of the most important historical events in Panama's recent history can be highlighted as follows:
- The construction and eventual transfer of the Panama Canal, which was initially started by the French and later completed by the United States, has been an essential trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Canal dramatically changed global trade and military strategy.
- Panama's departure from being a protectorate of the United States to becoming an independent nation in 1903, which was largely influenced by the U.S. support for Panama's independence from Colombia to facilitate the Canal's construction.
- The shift to democracy and development in Panama, including the establishment of a free-trade zone near the Canal and the country's role in international banking, signifying its strives towards becoming a significant economic force in the region.