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Portugal was the first country to arrive at Indonesia being attracted by thePortugal was the first country to arrive at Indonesia being attracted by the abundant spices in Indonesia. The Portuguese first conquered the key trading port of Malacca in 1511 and wanted to control the trade in the spice islands of Maluku. abundant spices in Indonesia. The Portuguese first conquered the key trading port of Malacca in 1511 and wanted to control the trade in the spice islands of Maluku.
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Through military conquest and alliance the Portuguese increased their control over Indonesia by establishing trading posts, forts in eastern Indonesia including islands such as Ternate, Ambon and Solor
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The Portuguese got driven out of Ternate after killing the son of the Sultan.
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In 1602 merging competing Dutch trading companies forms the VOC or the Netherlands United East India Company. The Netherlands United East India Company wanted to dominate the trade in Indonesia and form a monopoly of trade against other European companies against whom they were competing.
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The VOC prepares an attack on the Portuguese fort in Ambon but the Portuguese surrender. The VOC takes Tidore and Ambon from the Portuguese.
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After a slow and gradual industrialisation of the Netherlands, the VOC was able to indirectly colonize Indonesia.
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The Dutch take control over the Portuguese fortress in Malacca. Malacca was important for the VOC as it was situated on the main trade route to the far East (China and Japan)
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In 1806 British and Dutch went to war because the Dutch took the side of the French during the Napoleonic war. The war ended with a British victory and he British captured all the Dutch possessions in Indonesia. But in 1816 the British handed Indonesia back to the Dutch.
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The Java war was fought between 1825 and 1830. The Java war started as a rebellion by Prince Diponegoro who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. About 200,000 died during the conflict. The Java war ended when the prince was captured and expelled.
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In 1830 the Dutch introduced a new policy called cultivation system. Indonesian farmers were forced to grow crops for export on 20% of their land and they were paid a very low amount of money by the Dutch government. The farmers were forced to grow coffee, indigo, tea, pepper, cinnamon and sugar for exporting to European countries and as a result of this measure rice production was reduced.
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In 1942 the Japanese invaded Indonesia and controlled the trade and government of the country. The last Dutch troops surrendered on 8th March 1942.
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On 15th August 1945 Japan surrendered and the Dutch regained the control over Indonesia
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On 17th August 1945 Japanese leader Sukarno declared Indonesian Independence. He became the first president of Indonesia.
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Finally the Dutch recognise Indonesia as independent after four years of geurrilla warfare.
