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Austronesian peoples begin moving into Indonesia from the Philippines. -
Sanjaya (early Mataram) seizes control of central Java. buddhist Sailendran flees to Srivijaya, southern Sumatra. -
Political centre of Java moves to east Java; rise of Hindu kingdoms on Bali. -
Singasari dynasty founded; controls maritime trade from Srivijaya. -
Singasari falls to Majapahit kingdom, the most powerful in Indonesian history. -
Majapahit and Kediri are conquered by Islamic Demak, Java. Hindu-Javanese aristocracy moves to Bali. -
Dutch take over Jayakarta and rename it Batavia. -
A major conflict originates in Batavia. A new capital at Surakarta is established. -
Dutch introduce barbaric “Cultivation System” land tax payable by labour or land use. Famines occur; 250,000 people die. -
Turbulent period of strikes, violence and organised rebellions. -
Indonesian communist movement founded. -
Japan invades Bali and Java; promises independence. -
Japan surrenders and nationalist leaders Sukarno and Hatta declare Indonesia’s independence. Dutch return to resume control; war for independence breaks out. -
Dutch acknowledge Indonesia’s independence under UN pressure. -
Communist insurgency prompts Sukarno to declare martial law. -
Sukarno persuaded to sign over powers to his protégé, Suharto, who takes over presidency. Until 1998, Suharto is re-elected six times in rigged elections. -
Suharto refuses to reform economy and is forced to resign amid mass student uprising. -
Suharto dies, ending a major chapter in Indonesian history -
Poverty rate drops dramatically from 60 per cent in 1990 to 14.1 per cent. -
Amid global economic crisis, Indonesia emerges as the third strongest economy after China and India.