Burma (Myanmar): Historical highlights

Burma history timeline

Early Empires

5000–3000BC

The lower-paleolithic Anyathian culture flourishes in northern Burma.

3rd century BC

The Mon, immigrants from Central Asia, settle the Sittoung (Sittang) Valley, to the east of the Ayeyarwaddy River, establishing Buddhist tradition in Burma.

1st century AD

The Pyus arrive in the Ayeyarwaddy Valley, founding their capital at Pyay (Prome)

9th century AD

Known as the Bamar, the Myanmar people from the China-Tibet border settle in the rice growing area around Bagan, from where they control trade between China and India.

The Burmese Dynasties

1084–1113

The Golden Age of Bagan under King Kyanzittha, the great pagoda builder.

1287

Fall of the first Burmese empire following an invasion by the Mongol warlord, Kublai Khan.

1364

The Shan-Bamar dynasty founds a new capital at Inwa (Ava), near present day Mandalay.

1430

Mrauk-U, the last capital of independent Arakan, is established upriver from Sittwe in northwest Burma.

1519

The Portuguese gain the first foothold of any European power in the region, founding at trading post at Mottama (Martaban) in southeast Burma.

1550–1581

Bayinnaung, third king of the Taungoo Dynasty, subdues all of the country’s rival dynasties and founds the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia during his thirty-year reign.

1599

Thanlyin falls to Arakan forces led by the Portuguese mercenary, Filipe de Brito e Nicote.

1636

The King of Taungoo, Tabinswehti, moves his capital to Inwa (Awa; near present day Mandalay). British, French and Dutch trade develops rapidly.

1767

The Burmese conquer the Thai capital, Ayutthaya.

1784

The Burmese annexe Arakan, looting religious relics including the famous Maha Muni statue, and destroying the city’s palaces, fortifications, libraries, commerce and industries.

Colonial Period to World War II

1824–1826

The First Anglo-Burmese War. Under the Treaty of Yandabo, Britain takes possession of the coastal regions of Arakan and Tanintharyi (Tenasserium).

1852

In the Second Anglo-Burmese war, Britain annexes all of southern Burma, establishing their capital at Yangon (Rangoon).

1861

King Mindon (1853–1878) transfers the Burmese capital to Mandalay.

1885

The British, under General Prendergast, sails up the Ayeyarwaddy River to take Mandalay. King Thibaw and his family are sent into exile in India. All of Burma falls under British control.

1886–1895

Insurgency breaks out across the country, but the guerrilla uprising is quashed with brutal force by the British.

1941

The Japanese occupy Burma, forcing the Allies northwest into India. PoWs captured after the fall of Singapore are put to work in labour camps, building the infamous ‘Burma Railroad’.

1945

The Burma National Army starts an anti-Japanese uprising as the Allies fight their way southeast to re-take Burma.

1947

Aung San signs an independence agreement with Atlee, calling the country’s first free elections to form a Constituent Assembly, but is assassinated, along with six other members of the interim government.

Independence

1948

Burma formally regains independence and quits the Commonwealth, unleashing civil war and regional rebellions. U Nu becomes prime minister.

1951

U Nu retains power in elections, but cracks start to show in the his party.

1962

Ne Win sweeps to power in near bloodless coup on March 2nd. He appoints a Revolutionary Council to rule by decree, and implements the economically disastrous ‘Burmese Road to Socialism’.

1964

All political parties are banned and media strictly censored. Foreign businesses are nationalized, along with banks.

1969

Former PM, U Nu forms Parliamentary Democracy Party to flight the Revolutionary Council from abroad.

1987

The Generals cancel certain currency notes (only 45 and 90 kyat notes remain in circulation because they were divisible by nine, considered by Ne Win as an lucky number). Peoples savings are wiped out overnight, causing civil unrest.

1988

Sparked by a deteriorating economy, major demonstrations are staged at Yangon University. On 8 August 1988 hundreds of thousands mounts further protests calling for democracy.

The SLORC takes power

1988

A military coup places the State Law and Order Restoaration Council (SLORC) in power and a massive crackdown is launched by the military. Augn San Suu Kyi and colleagues form the National League for Democracy (the NLD).

1989

Burma’s name is changed by its military government to ‘Myanmar’. Some Western powers refuse to recognize the change.

1990

Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house around while general elections are held in which the NLD gains 80 seats.

1991

The SLORC refuses to accept the election results. Augn San Suu Kyi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1992

Burma condemned for serious human rights violations, as tens of thousands of dissidents are imprisoned without trial, removed to forced labour camps or summarily executed.

1993

Burma’s biggest ethnic rebelg, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), signs ceasefire agreement with the Yangon government, ending a 30-year war in the north.

1995

Aung San Suu Kyi is temporarily freed from house arrest, but returned to confinement five years later.

2002

Aung San Suu Kyi is released again and allowed to travel to Mandalay. General Ne Win, accused of plotting to overthrow the regime, dies while under house arrest.

2003

70 members of the NLD are murdered by a government-sponsored mob in what would become known as the ‘Depayin Massacre’. In its wake, Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest again – this time the incarceration will last for 15 years.

2006

Burma’s military junta inaugurate a brand new planned capital called Naypyidaw (“city of kings”), 320km north of Yangon.

The ‘Saffron Revolution’ and beyond . . .

2007

A hike in the price of fuel lead to widespread anti-government protests, which are violently suppressed by the regime. Thousands of monks spearhead a growing campaign of civil resistance,dubbed the ‘Saffron Revolution’.

2008

Cyclone Nargis wreaks devastation across the Ayeyarwady Delta, killing an estimated 200,000 people.

2009

Conflict breaks out in Shan State, when ethnic Chinese, Va and Kachin minorities take up arms against the junta – a rebellion dubbed the Kokang Incident.

2010

As part of a raft of constitutional reforms, national elections are held; they’re won by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, but the NLD condemn the result as fraudulent. Further reforms, designed to force a relaxation of economic sanctions against Burma, see a wind down of press censorship and release of hundreds of political prisoners – among them NLD leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

2012

Aung San Suu Kyi is one of 44 NLD representatives who enter the Burmese parliament following by-elections.