A Chronology of Burmese History

563-483 B.C.: Life of Gotama, the Buddha, in India.

c.300 A.D.: Indian traders bring Hindu religion and culture to Lower Burma, which is inhabited by Mons and Pyus, both peoples of Mongolian race who had migrated south from China, displacing earlier peoples who may have been Indonesians. According to tradition, Buddhism reached Burma by land at a much earlier date.

800-1000: The Burmans move south from eastern Tibet through China into the Irrawaddy plains.

832: Nanchao tribes sack Prome. End of Pyu power. The Mons repulse the Nanchao and develop a strong civilization around Pegu and Thaton.

849: Foundation of Pagan.

1057: King Anawrahta of Pagan conquers Thaton and brings Theravada Buddhism to Upper Burma.

1084-1112: Kyanzittha rules and builds at Pagan.

1287: Tartars sack Pagan. Disruption of kingdom. In next two hundred years the Shans become increasingly powerful throughout the area, founding Siam in 1350.

1365-1857: Burmese capital established at Ava in 1365. Five hundred years of power struggle among rulers of different regions. Shan migrations into the plains. Occasional interventions by Chinese. Repeated Burmese invasions of neighboring Siam, Arakan, Manipur, and Assam by strong dynasties.

c.1415: Maniratanapum, Burmese book of traditions.

1498: Vasco da Gama finds sea route to India.

1519: Portuguese trading post at Martaban.

1531—1752: Chieftans of Toungoo rise to dynastic power; their greatest warrior king, Bayinnaung (1551-81), dominates Burma and invades Siam.

1627: Dutch and English East India Companies open branches in Burma.

1752-60: Reign of Alaungpaya, great conqueror, who establishes dynasty that rules Central Burma till 1885.

1767: King Hsinbyushin invades Siam. Captives bring Thai culture to Burma.

1784-85: Burmese conquest of Arakan. King Bodawpaya’s census records a population of 1,831,467 Burmans.

1813: Judson founds American Baptist Mission.

1819: Burmese conquests of Manipur and Assam, and friction in Arakan, lead to first Anglo-Burmese War. Arakan and Tenasserim ceded to Britain.

1852: British conquer Prome and take over Lower Burma.

1853-78: Reign of enlightened King Mindon at Mandalay. He sponsors Fifth Buddhist Synod in 1871. His minister, Kinwun Mingyi, visits Europe in 1872. Factories and trading ventures. Suez Canal opens market for Burmese rice in 1869, British build Rangoon-Prome railway in 1877.

1885: Britain annexes Upper Burma. King Thibaw exiled. Burma administered as part of India.

1923: Partial self-government of “dyarchy” system; majority of British Governor’s Legislative Council elected on democratic franchise.

1936: Rangoon University students’ strike.

1937: Administration of Burma separated from India.

1941: U Nu and Thakin Party leaders jailed.

1942: Japanese invade Burma, driving out British, Chinese and some Americans under Stilwell. Dr. Ba Maw heads Government. Aung Sau and U Nu simulate cooperation while secretly organizing resistance. Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League founded.

1945: British invade Burma from India. Burmese help them drive out Japanese. British Governor returns; AFPFL leaders on his Executive Council in 1946.

1947: Aung San meets Attlee in London, wins approval for Constituent Assembly to draft constitution. Aung San assassinated. U Nu negotiates independence.

1948: Burma independent on January 4. U Nu beads Government. Communists begin rebellion. Land Nationalization Act passed by Parliament.

1949-54: Karens revolt in 1949. Army fights Kuomintang Chinese, Communists, and Karens.

1952: Pyidawtha Conference: Welfare State program.

1954: First meeting of Colombo Powers. Sixth Great Buddhist Council held in Rangoon. U Nu and Chou En-lai exchange state visits.

1955: U Nu attends Bandung Asian-African Conference.