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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Indonesia Shaped By Colonialism, Nationalism and Communism Through History
A Chronological Timeline of Indonesia consisting of the events that shaped it through Colonialism, Nationalism, Communism and Militarism. -
Jan 30, 1511
The Portuguese Arrive In Indonesia
Having conquered the kingdom of Malacca on the Malay Penninsula, the Portuguese travel down to Indonesia. The Portuguese arrive in Indonesia in the search for spices due to demand back home. The Portuguese become the first european colonist's to arrive in Indonesia. -
The Netherlands Create The Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) is formed in order to create a more efficient and better-organized merchant trade. This is due to the frequent pirate attacks on merchants on the high seas, Dutch warships accompany these merchant ships under orders to protect them. -
The VOC Start to Colonize Indonesia
After a slow and gradual industrialization of the Netherlands, the VOC indirectly colonized the archipelago of Indonesia. -
The Portugese Are Driven Out Of Indonesia
The Portuguese could no longer successfully control their trading posts after the Dutch had started to colonize Indonesia. They held a large network of colonies. but after losing to the Dutch in a surprise attack, they were eventually driven out of Indonesia after it. -
The Netherlands Controls Indonesia
Dutch colonists bring the whole of Indonesia under one government as the Dutch East Indies. The Netherlands would control the Dutch East Indies for approximately 330 years -
Timor Officially Becomes A Portugese Colony
After being under rule for over a hundred years, East Timor is officially recognized as a colony that is part of Portugal. It is now called Portugese Timor -
The VOC Goes Bankrupt
The Dutch East India Company is dissolved due to bankruptcy after having been in charge of running the Netherlands operations in South East Asia. They eventually reform to become the Dutch East Indies. -
Britain Takes Indonesia
Rhe Dutch’s control of Indonesia is temporarily shifted to the British government when Napoleon takes over the Netherlands. The Napoleonic Wars causes Napoleon to reprioritize the Empire allowing the British take Indonesia temporarily. -
The Royal Dutch East Indies Army Is Created
The Royal Dutch East Indies Army is created to help expand colonial rule and to protect the territories that Dutch held from their enemies. -
Budi Utomo is Founded
The First Indonesian nationalist organization is founded, which it is called Budi Utomo. Budi Utomo originated through the efforts of Mas Wahidin Sudirohusodo, who was Javanese physician -
Communist Party Of Indonesia Is Created
The Indies Social Democratic Organization (ISDV) was founded by Dutch socialist Henk Sneevliet and Pak Yahya, which would eventually be called the Communist Party Of Indonesia (PKI). -
Indonesia Declares Independance
The Japanese help independence leader Sukarno return from internal exile eventually helping him to power and declaring independence for Indonesia -
The Netherlands Recognizes Indonesia’s independence
After 4 years of fighting with the Dutch protecing there independence, the Netherlands and Indonesia meet at a press conference where it results in the Netherlands recognizing, officially ,Indonesia's indepedence. -
The Thirtieth of September Movement
A coup occurs that kills 6 generals in the process along with the capture of President Sukarno. The coup fails, which in the aftermath hundreds of thousands of suspected Communists are killed in a purge of leftists in a span of a year. -
Suharto Is Elected President
Suharto is elected president a year after being handed emergency power by former President Sukarno, starting the iron rule of Indonesia. -
President Sukarno Steps Down From Being President
President Sukarno resigns from office after 31 years of ruling. Allegations of corruption and repression of freedom of speech during his reign eventually led to his downfall.