-
5000 BCE
5000 BC
Austronesian peoples begin moving into Indonesia from the Philippines. -
580
850 AD
Sanjaya (early Mataram) seizes control of central Java. buddhist Sailendran flees to Srivijaya, southern Sumatra. -
910
910-1080
Political centre of Java moves to east Java; rise of Hindu kingdoms on Bali. -
1222
1222-1275
Singasari dynasty founded; controls maritime trade from Srivijaya. -
1294
1294
Singasari falls to Majapahit kingdom, the most powerful in Indonesian history. -
1401
15th century
Majapahit and Kediri are conquered by Islamic Demak, Java. Hindu-Javanese aristocracy moves to Bali. -
1619
Dutch take over Jayakarta and rename it Batavia. -
1740 – 1755
A major conflict originates in Batavia. A new capital at Surakarta is established. -
1830 - 1850
Dutch introduce barbaric “Cultivation System” land tax payable by labour or land use. Famines occur; 250,000 people die. -
1910 – 1930
Turbulent period of strikes, violence and organised rebellions. -
1910
Indonesian communist movement founded. -
1942 - 1944
Japan invades Bali and Java; promises independence. -
1945
Japan surrenders and nationalist leaders Sukarno and Hatta declare Indonesia’s independence. Dutch return to resume control; war for independence breaks out. -
1949
Dutch acknowledge Indonesia’s independence under UN pressure. -
Late 1950s
Communist insurgency prompts Sukarno to declare martial law. -
1966
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. -
1998
Suharto refuses to reform economy and is forced to resign amid mass student uprising. -
2008
Suharto dies, ending a major chapter in Indonesian history -
2009
Poverty rate drops dramatically from 60 per cent in 1990 to 14.1 per cent. -
2010
Amid global economic crisis, Indonesia emerges as the third strongest economy after China and India.