4000 BC		First traces of human habitation date to this time.
1st C. AD		Inland and coastal kingdoms based on Indian culture have developed.
1st-6th C. AD		Funan Empire flourishes in Cambodia, Hinduism introduced.
6th C. AD		Funan Empire overrun by Khmer people from the north.
early 9th C. AD		Khmer (Kambuja) Empire founded.
1181-1218 AD		Khmer Empire enters it greatest period. Extends it's power through much of Southeast Asia.
1100-1200		Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom temple complexes built.
c. 1200		Buddhism introduced.
13th C.		Decline of Khmer Empire begins. Territories lost to Siam and Vietnam.
1431		Khmer Empire collapses following Thai invasion.
1450-1850		Cambodia falls under control of Siamese and Vietnamese kingdoms.
18th C.		Cambodia loses territory to Siam and Vietnam.
1830s		Siam and Vietnam escalate their battle for control of Cambodia.
1854		King of Cambodia appeals to the French for protection.
1863		France establishes a protectorate in Cambodia.
1887		Cambodia becomes part of French colonial Indochina.
1897		Cambodian King reduced to a purely ceremonial status by the French.
1907		Siam returns captured territory.
1941		Japan invades Cambodia, but leaves Vichy French administration in theoretical control. Three western provinces captured by Siam
1941		Prince Norodom Sihanouk becomes King.
March 1945		Liberation of France in Europe results in collapse of Vichy French administration in Indochina. King Sihanouk declares independence under Japanese influence
late 1945		France reestablishes control of Cambodia.
January 1946		Cambodia becomes autonomous within the French Union.
1946		Communist guerrillas launch fight for full independence.
January 1953		King Sihanouk dissolves parliament, declares martial law and asserts full independence from France.
9 November 1953		France accepts Cambodian independence.
early 1954		Cambodia invaded by Viet Minh communist forces from neighbouring Vietnam.
May 1954		Geneva Conference formally recognises Shihanouk's government. Foreign forces withdraw.
March 1955		King Sihanouk abdicates in favour of his father, and establishes a new popular political movement.
Sept 1955		Prince Sihanouk's party wins every seat in parliament and he becomes Prime Minister.
1955		Cambodia withdraws from French Union and joins United Nations.
1960		Prince Sihanouk becomes chief of state following the death of his father.
1960-65		Cambodia struggles to remain neutral in Vietnam War.
1963		Sihanouk refuses further US aid over US interference in Cambodian affairs.
1965		Diplomatic relations with US ended. Viet Cong allowed to use bases in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge launches guerrilla campaign.
Spring 1969		USA begins secret aerial bombing of communist bases in Cambodia.
July 1969		Ties with USA reestablished.
August 1969		General Lon Nol becomes Prime Minister under Prince Sihanouk. Over 50,000 Vietnamese troops now in Cambodia.
18 March 1970		Sihanouk deposed in bloodless right-wing coup by General Lon Nol while he is out of the country. Cambodian forces attack Vietnamese bases in Cambodia.
October 1970		'Khmer Republic' declared.
1970		Exiled Sihanouk forms Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia (GRUNC) backed by once hostile communist Khmer Rouge.
April 1970		South Vietnamese & US forces enter Cambodia to attack communist strongholds. Upsurge in support for Khmer Rouge.
June 1970		Communist forces drive Government troops out of north eastern provinces.
9 October 1970		Khmer Republic proclaimed, monarchy abolished. Government controls less than one third of country.
2 December 1971		North Vietnamese forces break through defences north of Phnom Penh.
10 March 1972		Lon Nol seizes power, National Assembly dissolved.
4 June 1972		Lon Nol elected President under new constitution.
4 April 1973		Highway 5 to Phnom Penh cut by Khmer Rouge forces.
15 August 1973		USA ends direct participation in fighting.
17 April 1975		Phnom Penh falls to Khmer Rouge. Cambodian government surrenders.
1975		Hard-line communist regime under Pol Pot takes control. Country renamed Kampuchea. Genocide of 1.7 million people over next four years begins. The infamous 'Year Zero'.
April 1975		Sihanouk named as chief of state for life by Khmer Rouge.
May 1975		US merchant ship SS Mayaguez seized, then returned after US air strikes.
1976		Country renamed Democratic Kampuchea. Sihanouk resigns. Pol Pot becomes Prime Minister.
Dec 1978		Vietnamese and Laotian forces invade Cambodia after several border incidents.
7 January 1979		Phnom Penh captured by Vietnamese Army. Khmer Rouge start guerilla war from border regions.
January 1979		Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party take control. Vietnamese advisors oversee all levels of government. Country renamed People's Republic of Kampuchea.
1982		Major Vietnamese offensive fails to break guerrilla resistance.
1982		Sihanouk becomes head of coalition of Cambodian communist & non-communist guerrilla groups.
March 1986		Guerrilla coalition launches successful attack on Battambang.
December 1987		First formal talks between Sihanouk and Hun Sen's Vietnamese-backed government.
1988		Vietnam begins withdrawing troops.
September 1989		Last Vietnamese troops withdrawn.
1989		Country renamed State of Cambodia. Socialism abandoned. Buddhism reestablished.
January 1990		UN Security Council approves initial plan for UN monitored ceasefire and elections.
26 June 1991		Permanent ceasefire agreed.
23 October 1991		Formal peace agreement signed in Paris by all Cambodian factions. Civil war ends.
February 1992		UN launches largest UN peacekeeping mission ever. Takes over administration of Cambodia.
May 1993		General Election won by royalist Funcinpec party. Coalition government formed.
1993		Khmer Rouge boycott elections and continue armed conflict.
September 1993		Monarchy restored - Sihanouk becomes king again. Country renamed Kingdom of Cambodia.
1994		Thousands of Khmer Rouge guerillas surrender in government amnesty.
1996		Khmer Rouge splits into two factions. Faction under Pol Pot continues fighting.
July 1997		Joint Prime Minister Hun Sen stages violent coup against royalist co-premier Prince Ranariddh.
1998		Pol Pot dies in his jungle hideout. Khmer Rouge rapidly losing support.
July 1998		Parliamentary elections held - Hun Sen becomes Prime Minister of coalition government.
1999		Cambodia joins ASEAN.
Dec 2001		First bridge across the Mekong river opens - linking east and west of the country.
January 2003		Angry crowds attack Thai embassy in Phnom Penh after Thai TV star alleges that Angkor Wat temple complex was stolen from Thailand.
Oct 2004		King Sihanouk abdicates in favour of his son Norodom Sihamoni.