Key Dates in Myanmar History

1000 BC - 1500s AD
(1000BC) Tharay Kittarar (Srikittra) Pyu City State founded 
(518BC) Kingdom of Waytharlee founded 
(107 AD) Bagan Dynasty began as a city-state 
(1044 - 1077) King Anawrahtar organized the entire country into a single sovereign nation - the founding of the First Myanmar Empire 
(1044 - 1077) King Anawrahtar founded first unified Burmese state at Pagan, Theravada Buddhism was adopted 
(1287) Bagan Dynasty fell. Many pagodas in Bagan were destroyed to use the bricks to build forts in defense against Genghis Khan's Mongolian troops.
Second Myanmar Empire founded, the Hantharwaddy (Bago) Dynasty 
(1309) Pinya Dynasty founded 
(1315) Sagaing Dynasty founded 
(1364) Innwa Dynasty founded 
(1486) TaungNgoo Dynasty founded 
(1531) During Toungoo Dynasty, Portuguese helped reunite Burma 

1700 - 1800 
(1752) Third Myanmar Empire, the Konbaung Dynasty, founded 
(1824 - 1826) First Anglo-Burmese War 
(1826) Treaty of Yandabo ended the war. Burma ceded Arakan coastal strip to British India 
(1852) Second Anglo-Burmese War 
Britain annexed lower Burma 
King Mindon nationalized petroleum production 
(1853 - 1878) During King Mindon's reign, the industrial revolution occurred 
(1885) In the Third Anglo-Burmese War, Britain captured all of Myanmar, made it a province of British India 

1900s
(1937) Britain separated Burma from India, made it a crown colony 
(1942) Japan invaded, occupied Burma 
(1945) Burma liberated from occupation by British and the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL), led by Aung San 
(1947) Aung San and six members of his government assassinated by political opponents led by U Saw
(1948) Burma became independent, U Nu became prime minister
(1958 - 1960) Chief of Staff General Ne Win formed caretaker government following a split in the ruling party
(1960) U Nu's party won elections. Military angered by his promotion of Buddhism as the state religion
(1962) U Nu ousted in a coup led by General Ne Win
General Ne Win abolished federal system, inaugurated "Burmese Way to Socialism", nationalized the economy, formed single-party state with Socialist Programme Party as a sole political party, banned independent  newspapers 
(1974) New constitution came into effect. Power transferred from armed forces to People's Assembly headed by Ne Win, other military leaders 
(1975) Guerilla insurgencies mounted by Opposition National Democratic Front 
(1982) Ne Win relinquished the presidency to San Yu 
(1987) Devaluation of currency wiped out people's savings, caused anti-government riots 
(1988) Thousands killed in anti-government riots 
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) formed 
(1989) SLORC declared martial law, arrested thousands, named Burma Myanmar, capital Rangoon changed to Yangon 
Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD leader and daughter of Aung San, put under house arrest 
(1990) Opposition National League for Democracy won a victory in general elections 
(1991) Aung San Suu Kyi awarded Nobel Peace Prize for commitment to peaceful change 
(1992) Than Shwe replaced Saw Maung as SLORC chairman, prime minister, and defense minister
To improve Burma's international image, several political prisoners were freed 
(1995) After six years, Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest 
(1996) Aung San Suu Kyi attended first NLD congress since her arrest 
(1997) Burma admitted to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
SLORC renamed to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) 
(1998) Ruling council refused to comply with the NLD deadline for convening Parliament 

2000s
(2000) Aung San Suu Kyi began secret talks with the ruling council 
(2001) Shan rebels clashed with the Burmese army on the Thai border 
President of China, Jiang Zemin visited, urged economic reform 
(2002) Aung San Suu Kyi released after 20 months of house arrest, taken into protective custody after clashes between her supporters and the government
(2003) Khin Nyunt became prime minister, proposed drafting a new constitution
(2004) Constitutional convention began, Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party boycotted
Khin Nyunt replaced as prime minister, placed under house arrest
(2005) Seat of government moved to a new site near Pyinmana
(2007) Burma and North Korea restored diplomatic ties after 24 years 
Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest extended for another year 
Fuel price hikes caused public dissent, dozens arrested
National Convention closed after 14 years of constitutional talks 
Aung San Suu Kyi allowed to leave the house to greet Buddhist monks protesting in Rangoon against government 
(2008) Series of bomb blasts hit the country 
New constitution allocated one-quarter of seats in parliament to the military and banned Aung San Suu Kyi from holding office 
134,000 died after Cyclone Nargis hit Irrawaddy delta 
Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrested renewed 
Despite protests, the government signed consortium to pipe natural gas into China 
(2009) Thailand expelled hundreds of members of Burma's Muslim Rohingya 
NLD offered to participate in planned elections if the government freed all political prisoners, changed the constitution and allowed international observers 
Aung San Suu Kyi convicted of breaching terms of house arrest and sentenced to additional 18 months house arrest 
Aung San Suu Kyi began talks with military leaders, allowed to meet with Western diplomats 
(2010) Government changed the country's flag, national anthem, and official name
Military-backed party, Union Solidarity and Development Party won in the first election held in 20 years 
Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest 
(2011) Thein Sein sworn in as president 
President Thein Sein suspended construction of controversial hydroelectric dam 
Some political prisoners freed and new laws allowing labor unions passed 
Aung San Suu Kyi announced she would stand in the election to parliament
President Thein Sein signed a law allowing peaceful demonstrations 
NLD re-registered as a political party in advance of 2012 elections 
(2012) Aung San Suu Kyi elected to parliament
In a series of prisoner amnesties, most important dissidents were released
NLD boycotted parliament due to oath of office for MPs, UN's Secretary-General urged President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi to work as partners on the path to change
Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, signed 12 agreements to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties, provided for border area development, the establishment of Indian credit line
Pre-publication censorship abolished
European Commission offered more than $100 million in development aid to Myanmar
(2013) Burmese army launched an attack on Kachin rebels near the Chinese border, breaking the ceasefire
12 people were killed in riots between Muslims and Buddhists south of Mandalay, several mosques were burned down 
President Thein Sein announced that all political prisoners would be released by the end of the year
(2014) Protesters in Yangon called for the abolition of repressive laws, end to political arrests
(2015) Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) wins a landslide victory in the general elections. 
(2016) Aung San Suu Kyi becomes State Counsellor, a position created for her.
(2017) The military launches clearance operations in Rakhine State, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims.
(2018) Myanmar establishes the Independent Commission of Enquiry to investigate human rights abuses in Rakhine State.
(2019) Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, are freed from prison after being convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act.
(2020) The NLD wins re-election, but the military disputes the results.
(2021) The military seizes power in a coup, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders.
(2022) The military executes four democracy activists, sparking international condemnation. 
(2023) ASEAN excludes Myanmar's military leaders from its summits. 
(2024) The military extends its state of emergency, delaying elections promised for 2023.