Myanmar History

The history timeframe is a long and difficult one, 

the worst started when the British marauders came in and begun to kill the Burmese. Unfortunately they had guns and the locals had none. Here is a rough chronology for some basic knowledge when visiting. 

About four thousand years ago Australoide nomads, the first inhabitants of Burma assimilate with the ancestors of the Mon.

Historic wall painting
in Bagan

1.-4 Century. The feudal state of the Pyu with their capital Peikthano was formed. Some stupas with very early Buddhist art where built.

5.-7. Century. The feudal Mon kingdoms of Thaton and Pegu / Bago (Lower Burma) and Dvaravati (Thailand) came up. According to legends, the monk Buddhagosha brought Buddhist scriptures or Tripitaka from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and reformed the religion.

5th Century to 832. The Pyu / Pyay kingdom of Thayekhetaya was formed and early temples and pagodas were built plus sculptures and reliefs (terracotta and stone).

849-1044 founding of Bagan (849). The beginning to create a feudal state with the city as core and start of monument construction there.

Myanmar history at Bagan

1044-1077 founding of the ruling dynasty of Bagan by King Anuruddha (Anoratha). Under his rule the kingdom was expanded and subjugation of the Mons. He brought Buddhist scriptures and relics back to his capital. Theravada Buddhism became the state

Traditional Nat

religion, the traditional Nat cult was reformed and subordinated to the Buddha doctrine.

1082-1112 assassination of King Sawla a son of Anuruddha. His junger son Kyanzittha ascends the throne. Fur further consolidation of the empire Kyanzittha makes connections to Sinhalese Buddhists. Increasing prevalence of Buddhist literature is the result.

1167-1204 under King Narapati-Sithu the power expansion of the empire was on it's zenith, combining all areas including Arakan under his rule. He sent an embassy to the king of Ceylon (1167), who selected five-missionary monks to bring the "pure" doctrine of Buddhism to Burma.

1204-1287 slow decline of the empire because of never ending wars with the neighboring states but a rich development of literature.

1300 Upper Burma was divided into tributary states to China ruled by Shan Princes. Mon / Pegu / Bago acquired independence and the south which is Tenasserim falls to Siam.

1306-1330 continuous conflicts between Pegu and Siam.

1364-1535 The founding of Ava (also Inwa or Ratanupura) by the Shan King Rahula initiates the Ava period of history. There was an emergence of literature with close connection to Pali, which still lived on as church and scholarly language. Since the 15th Century handwritten text appears on palm leaves.

1385 war between Pegu and the Shan kingdom which was supported by Arakan (today Rakhine), the town of Pyu (Prome) falls to the kingdom.

1438 Rise of the Taungoo dynasty. The Italian traveler Nicolo de Conti visited and describes the port of Thaton. The Russian Afanasij Nikitin, the Bolognese Ludovico de Bortema and others European travelers of that time wrote travelogues (no internet yet).

1454 Ali Khan subjects the Arakan Kingdom and some new Mongol invasions in the north weak the kingdom. Freebooters from Europe support neighboring states with soldiers and weapons.

1511 The Portuguese traveler Ruy Nunes d'Alcunha wrote about his trip to Burma.

1530 end of the Shan dynasty. On the territory five independent kingdoms have been created: Ava (Upper Burma), Pegu (Mon), Taungoo (Lower Burma), Prome and Arakan whose feuds and internal power struggle blocked economic and cultural development and in consequence are exploited by the rival Portuguese, Netherlnds, French and English to gain influence into the country.

1550-1570 The Mon kingdom of Pegu was at top of his power which gradually disappeared because of incompetent rulers who continuously fought wars with Arakan and Siam.

1570-1590 The Kingdom of Taungoo dominates Pegu, Prome, Ava and Arakan and extends as far as Siam which is the Thailand of today and is mainly just behind the mountain range to the east.

1587-1593 Rise of the Siamese to shake them off.

1596-1661 Renewed ascent of the Kingdom of Ava.

1627 English and Dutch started with a trading mission and got pulled into the power struggle between the local kings. At that time the locals had no modern arms such as rifles etc. and they were very well aware what this modern weapons means so they tried to pull the European parties on their side to get them.

1653 Introduction of a State monopoly for gold, silver, precious stones and some minerals to control trade with the English and the others, also a French delegation comes into the country to see what they could do to benefit.

1720 First Catholic mission.

1700-1750 Increasing decay of the kingdoms. The East India Company established an agency in Pegu. In the last century Burmese peasants were more and more used as serfs, the started a insurrections, but all was suppressed.

1752 Ava was destroyed by the rebel Mon.

1754-1760 King Alaungpaya got Ava back and his troops conquered Pegu and the rebellious Mon where subjected. After around 500 years the country is again united under the Konbaung Dynasty of Alaungpaya.

1757 Founding of Rangoon, today Yangon.

1760-1780 After the death of Alaungpayas the capital is moved alternately to Shwebo and Sagaing. The empire expands its power once more.
created a interesting visualization with his "mission trip to the Kingdom Ava," the first comprehensive description of Burma a still readable fact-rich sourcebook.

1853-1878 King Mindon Min, the last ruler of the Konbaung dynasty, managed to consolidate the Burmese central government and by internal reforms launching a new economic and cultural development. The further realization of historically progressive reform efforts and the development of Burma's own economy, however were torpedoed by the British aggression and came to an halt. destroyed.

1857 The new capital of Mandalay was built.

1878-1884 Internal power struggles manipulated by the British initiated the disintegration of the state and the king tried to seek the help of France.

1885 Third British war. Despite the fierce resistance of the local troops the English managed to occupy Upper Burma and they got the entire country under control.
where the local forces never even had a small chance.

1906 founding of the Buddhist Youth Association.

1906-1918 anti-British uprising in different parts of the country.

1945 Armed uprising against Japanese occupation and restoration of British colonial rule.

1946 National General Strike against the colonial occupation.

1990 Chances start to appear.

2012 Indication that thing get real better.