Prehistory
The earliest archaeological evidence suggests that cultures existed in Burma as early as 11,000 BCE. Most indications of early settlement have … See more

After the fall of Pagan, the Mongols left the searing Irrawaddy valley but the Pagan Kingdom was irreparably broken up into several small kingdoms. By the mid-14th century, the country had become organised along four major power centres: Upper Burma, … See more

First Toungoo Empire (1510–99)
Beginning in the 1480s, Ava faced constant internal rebellions and external attacks from the … See more

Britain made Burma a province of India in 1886 with the capital at Rangoon. Traditional Burmese society was drastically altered by … See more

Early Bagan
The Burmans who had come down with the early 9th Nanzhao raids of the Pyu states remained in … See more

Reunification
Soon after the fall of Ava, a new dynasty rose in Shwebo to challenge the authority of Hanthawaddy. Over the next 70 years, the highly militaristic … See more

Some Burmese nationalists saw the outbreak of World War II as an opportunity to extort concessions from the British in exchange for support … See more