A TIMELINE OF BURMA THROUGH THE AGES
By Tim Lambert
300 BC A great civilisation exists in Burma
c 100 AD A people called the Pyu settle in northern Burma
9th Century AD A great civilisation exists in Burma
849 Pagan is founded
1044 Anawrahta becomes king of Pagan
1057 Anawrahta founds the first Burmese Empire
1287 The Mongols invade Burma
15th Century An Italian named Nicolo di Conti is the first European to reach Burma
17th Century The British, Dutch and French trade with Burma
1785 Bodawapaya becomes ruler of all Burma
182436 The Burmese fight the British
1886 Britain becomes the ruler of all of Burma
1932 A rebellion in Burma is crushed
1937 Burma is made a separate colony from India
1942 Japan invades Burma. The Japanese capture Mandalay in May.
1944 The British advance into Burma
1945 In March the British capture Mandalay
1948 Burma becomes independent
1962 General Win seizes power. He announces the 'Burmese way to Socialism'. However as in other countries Socialism proves to be a failure.
1988 Demonstrations are held in Burma but the army continues to hold power
1999 The ILO recommends sanctions against Burma because of the use of forced labour
2007 Demonstrations in Burma are brutally crushed
2008 Cyclone Narqis devastates Burma
2010 Aung San Suu Kyi is released
2012 She wins elections