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The Pagan Kingdom (also known as Bagan) is considered the first unified Burmese kingdom. It was founded by King Anawrahta in 1044 CE, and it grew to encompass much of what is modern-day Myanmar.
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The Taungoo Dynasty was one of the most powerful and expansive Burmese dynasties. It began with King Mingyinyo and is best known for unifying Burma after a period of fragmentation.
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The Konbaung Dynasty was the last and longest-lasting Burmese monarchy, founded by King Alaungpaya in 1752 after the fall of the Taungoo Dynasty. Golden Age: Under King Maha Min Htin (Mindon Min) and his son King Thibaw, the kingdom flourished culturally and economically, making significant strides in education, industry, and military organization.
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After the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, Burma was annexed by the British Empire and made part of British India. In 1937, Burma became a separate colony under British rule.
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Burma gained independence from Britain as the Union of Burma. Key Leader: Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, played a crucial role in leading Burma to independence. However, Aung San was assassinated in 1947, and the newly independent nation faced ethnic tensions and civil conflicts.
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Ne Win, the leader of the military, overthrew the democratic government of U Nu in a coup in 1962. Ne Win established a one-party, military-controlled state under the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). His rule was characterized by a command economy and isolationist policies. The country suffered economic decline, and there was widespread discontent.
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After the 8888 Uprising in 1988, which was a pro-democracy movement, SLORC took control, and the country was effectively under martial law. Despite a 1990 general election, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory, the military refused to hand over power, and the NLD was not allowed to assume control.
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In 1997, the SLORC officially changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Under Than Shwe’s leadership, Myanmar became even more isolated from the international community. Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest since 1990, became a symbol of resistance to the regime. Despite international condemnation, the military junta maintained control, severely restricting civil rights and engaging in widespread human rights abuses.
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011 marked the start of a transition to a quasi-democracy, with former military officials holding key positions of power, but there were elections, and Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD won significant victories in the 2015 general elections.
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On February 1, 2021, the military, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, staged a coup and ousted the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD). The coup followed allegations of election fraud in the 2020 general elections, which the NLD won overwhelmingly.