| Fossil evidence suggests the Indonesian | | | | The Dutch colonial presence in Indonesia |
| archipelago was inhabited by Homo | | | | existed in various forms for over 300 |
| erectus, popularly termed the Java Man. | | | | years until the Japanese occupation in |
| Estimates of its existence range from | | | | the second World War. During the war, |
| 500,000 to 2 million years ago. The | | | | Sukarno, a popular leader of the |
| modern peoples of Malay people origin | | | | Indonesian Nationalist Party, cooperated |
| are descendants of immigrants from | | | | with the occupying Japanese with the |
| mainland South East Asia beginning | | | | intention of strengthening the |
| around 6,000 years ago. Ideal | | | | independence movement. On August 17, |
| agricultural conditions, and in | | | | 1945, Sukarno, with the Japanese |
| particular the mastering of wet-field | | | | organised National Committee of |
| rice cultivation as early as the seventh | | | | Independence (BPUPKI) unilaterally |
| century BC, allowed villages, towns and | | | | declared Indonesian independence. |
| eventually small kingdoms to flourish by | | | | Sukarno then became the first president, |
| the first century AD. Around the same | | | | while Muhammad Hatta became the |
| time, trade was established between both | | | | vice-president. Over the next four |
| India and China, fostered by Indonesia's | | | | years, the Netherlands mounted military |
| highly strategic sea lane position which | | | | campaigns to reoccupy Indonesia, but in |
| would continue to greatly influence the | | | | the face of international pressure |
| country's history. | | | | acknowledged Indonesian independence in |
| It was upon this trade, and the Hinduism | | | | 1949. |
| and Buddhism that was brought with it, | | | | Increasing tensions between the |
| that the Sriwijaya kingdom flourished | | | | Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and |
| from the 7th century AD. It became a | | | | the Indonesian military culminated in an |
| powerful naval state, which grew wealthy | | | | abortive coup on 30 September 1965 which |
| on the international trade it controlled | | | | saw six top-ranking generals murdered in |
| through the region until its decline in | | | | circumstances that remain contentious |
| the 12th century. During the 8th and | | | | even today. A quick counter-coup led by |
| 10th centuries AD, the | | | | Major General Suharto resulted in an |
| agriculturally-based Buddhist Sailendra | | | | anti-communist purge centred mainly in |
| and Hindu Mataram dynasties thrived and | | | | Java and Bali, and to the deaths of |
| declined in inland Java with great | | | | hundreds of thousands of communists and |
| monuments built, including Borobudur and | | | | their sympathisers. Suharto capitalised |
| Prambanan respectively. The Hindu | | | | on Sukarno's gravely weakened position |
| Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern | | | | and, by 1967, had manoeuvred himself |
| Java in 1294, and under its military | | | | into the presidency. Commonly referred |
| commander Gajah Mada stretched over much | | | | to as the New Order, Suharto's |
| of modern day Indonesia. This period is | | | | administration encouraged major foreign |
| referred to as a Golden Age in the | | | | investment in Indonesia, which was to |
| country's history. | | | | become a major factor in the subsequent |
| Arab traders first brought Islam to | | | | three decades of substantial economic |
| Indonesia in the late 12th century, | | | | growth. |
| establishing settlements in the Aceh | | | | From 1997 to 1998, however, Indonesia |
| region. It spread across the Indonesian | | | | became the country hardest hit by the |
| archipelago, following trade routes. | | | | East Asian Financial Crisis, aggravating |
| Rather than a violent conquest, it was, | | | | popular discontent with Suharto, who |
| for the most part, peacefully laid over | | | | already faced accusations of corruption, |
| and mixed with existing cultural (and | | | | and further inflaming popular protests |
| even religious) influences to form what | | | | in early 1998. On 21 May 1998, President |
| is still the predominant form of Islam | | | | Suharto announced his resignation, |
| in Indonesia today, particularly in | | | | ushering in the Reformasi era in |
| Java. | | | | Indonesia. A wide range of reforms have |
| European traders first arrived in the | | | | been introduced since then, including |
| early sixteenth century seeking to | | | | Indonesia's first direct presidential |
| monopolise the sources of nutmeg, | | | | election in 2004, but progress has been |
| cloves, and cubeb pepper in The | | | | slowed by political and economic |
| Moluccas. In 1506 the Portuguese, led by | | | | instability, social unrest, terrorism |
| Ferdinand Magellan, were the first | | | | and recent natural disasters. Although |
| Europeans to arrive in Indonesia; the | | | | relations between different religious |
| Dutch and British followed. The Dutch | | | | and ethnic groups are largely |
| became the dominant traders in | | | | harmonious, acute sectarian discontent, |
| Indonesia, establishing the Dutch East | | | | even violence, remains a problem in some |
| India Company (VOC) in 1602. The VOC, | | | | areas. Political settlements relating to |
| however, was dissolved in 1798 and the | | | | separatism issues have been achieved in |
| government of the Netherlands | | | | Aceh and East Timor, the latter having |
| established the Dutch East Indies as a | | | | seceded from Indonesia in 1999. |
| fully-fledged colony. | | | | |