9000 BC		First signs of a human population in Burma.
3000 BC		The Mon people begin migrating into southern Burma from Cambodia.
300 BC		First Mon kingdom founded at Thaton.
3rd C. AD		Burmese people emigrate from Tibet into northern Burma.
7th C. AD		The Pyu people arrive and found city kingdoms.
849		Burmese kingdom of Pagan (or Bagan) founded.
1057		King Anawrahta of Pagan defeats Mon city of Thaton and founds the first unified Burmese state - the Bagan Kingdom.
1287		Mongols under Kublai Khan conquer Pagan then withdraw, leaving a puppet ruler.
1364		Burman city of Inwa (or Ava) founded - Bagan culture revived.
1519		Portuguese traders arrive in the region.
1527		Inwa overrun by the Shan and destroyed.
1531		Burmese Taungoo kingdom founded by survivors of Inwa.
1551-1613		Unified Burma created by Taungoo rulers. New ruling dynasties founded in Bago (south) and Inwa (north).
1612		British East India Company established trading posts near Rangoon.
1752		City of Bago rebels and defeats rulers of Inwa.
1752		Konbaung dynasty takes control of Inwa, regains Bago (1759), and expands into Assam (India) and Thailand.
1824		First Anglo-Burmese War, following Burmese invasion of eastern parts of British India.
24 February 1826		Treaty of Yanabo ends Burmese territorial claims in India.
1852		Second Anglo-Burmese War - Britain annexes Lower Burma (Bago Province), including Rangoon.
1853		King Mindon takes control of Upper Burma. Modernises economy, nationalises petroleum industry.
1853-1878		Industrial revolution in Upper Burma.
1885		Third Anglo-Burmese War - Britain captures Upper Burma after a brief battle.
1 January 1886		Burma becomes a province of British India.
1886		Burmah Oil Company founded.
1890		Guerrilla resistance to British rule ends.
1915		Burma is 14th largest petroleum producer in the world.
1920		Protests against plans to exclude Burma from constitutional reforms in India.
1923		Partially elected legislature with limited powers created.
1930		Economic depression triggers unrest.
1 April 1937		Burma separated from India and made a semi-autonomous crown colony. Ba Maw becomes Burma's first Prime Minister.
1939		U Saw displaces Ba Maw as Prime Minister.
1941		Nationalist group 'Thirty Comrades' including Aung San and Ne Win go to Taiwan for military training by Japanese.
December 1941		Aung Sang announces formation of Burma Independence Army (BIA)
11 December 1941		Japan invades Burma with some help from Burma Independence Army.
20 May 1942		Burma surrenders to Japanese occupation.
1942		Ba Maw installed as head of Japanese puppet state.
March 1945		Burma Independence Army becomes Burma National Army and launches resistance to Japanese occupation. Political coalition named Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) formed under leadership of Aung San.
May 1945		The Allies complete the liberation of Burma.
August 1945		British civilian administration returns to Burma.
January 1947		Britain agrees to Burmese independence.
April 1947		Aung San's Freedom League party win elections and he becomes Prime Minister.
19 July 1947		Aung San and nearly his entire cabinet assassinated by political rival U Saw.
4 January 1948		Burma becomes independent country under U Nu, outside of the Commonwealth.
1950		Armed uprisings by communists and by Karen People fighting for an independent state.
1955		Policy of neutrality in Cold War established.
1958		AFPFL party splits into two. Shan liberation struggle begins.
Feb 1960		U Nu's faction wins elections.
1960		Border dispute with China settled.
1961		Kachin rebellion begins.
March 1962		Coup by General Ne Win overthrows civilian government and initiates military dictatorship. "Buddhist Socialism" introduced - political isolation, nationalisation of industry and even of retail stores. Free trade prohibited.
1964		Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP) declared the sole legal party.
2 March 1974		New constitution makes Burma a one-party state, the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. Military rule ends. National flag changed.
1976		Social unrest. Attempted military coup. Ethnic liberation groups gain control of 40% of country.
1982		Non-indigenous (Indian and Chinese) people barred from public office.
1985-87		Burmese Army launches sustained offensive to reclaim rebel held areas along border regions.
November 1986		Burma asks UN for 'least developed country' status to qualify for emergency aid. Economy now failing badly with food shortages and runaway inflation.
September 1987		Student riots following currency devaluation which wipes out many people's life savings.
March 1988		Street riots in Rangoon follow police killing of a student. Anti-government protests and riots across the country follow.
1988		Ethnic resistance groups form Democratic Alliance of Burma.
1988		Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of Aung San) and ex-premier U Nu found National League for Democracy (NLD).
July 1988		General Ne Win resigns. Martial law imposed. Opposition leaders jailed.
8 August 1988		Hundreds of thousands of people nationwide march to demand elected civilian government. 1000s killed when troops fire on unarmed protestors.
19 August 1988		Civilian Dr. Maung Maung installed as President after general strike. Martial law lifted, political prisoners freed, free elections promised.
18 September 1988		General Saw Muang stages military coup. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is established. 10,000 die when the Army fires machine guns into the crowds of demonstrators. Thousands more are arrested.
19 June 1989		Burma renamed Myanmar.
5-7 July 1989		Mass anti-government rally in Rangoon. Troops block further demonstrations.
July 1989		Opposition leader Ang San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest.
27 May 1990		NLD wins 80% of popular vote in multi-party national elections. The result is ignored by the military. SLORC remains in power.
20 July 1990		Thousands arrested in crackdown on opposition.
October 1991		Aung San Suu Kyi wins Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to peaceful change.
23 April 1992		General Than Shwe takes over as SLORC leader. Some detainees released and curfew abolished. Crackdown on corruption launched.
July 1997		Burma joins ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Nations.
November 1997		SLORC renamed State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
1998		300 NLD members released from prison.
August 2003		Khin Nyunt become Prime Minister. Announces plans for new constitution to restore democracy.
January 2004		Government and Karen National Union agree to end hostilities.
May 2004		Constitutional convention begins - boycotted by NLD, whose leaders are still under house arrest.
July 2004		Constitutional convention adjourned.
18 October 2004		Khin Nyunt replaced as Prime Minister and placed under house arrest.
November 2004		Many leading dissidents freed from prison.
December 2004		Undersea earthquake off Indonesia causes giant Tsunami to hit Burmese coast - over 3000 left homeless.
February 2005		Constitutional convention resumes - without participation of opposition or rebel ethnic groups.
November 2005		Plans announced to move capital city to Pyinmana.