In the early 16th century, explorer/conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa helped the Spanish conquer areas where current day Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and parts of Colombia. Over the next thirty or so years, the Spanish conquered the Incans in Peru - which created huge supplies of silver and gold, which was then exported out of modern day Panama city via overland train. The Scots, who didn’t want to be left behind, wanted to start a colony where Balboa landed, the Gulf of Darién. The Darien scheme was so expensive that it consumed about one-fifth of all of Scotland’s wealth. The scheme was a massive disaster: 80% of the colonists were dead within a year and eventually failed for good after 11 years. It failed so badly and took so much of Scotland’s wealth with it, weakening Scotland to the point where it lost its sovereignty via the Acts of Union 1707 eight years later. Control of the area was consolidated by the Spanish. About a century later, a sailor who once sailed to Darien had suggested the name for a town in central Connecticut to replace “Middlesex Parish”. And this is why a WASPy town in Connecticut is named after a place that is linked with a massive economic failure.
Post stuff please. I am traveling today
CT
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
PRO
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
CAL
MLK
Poster