The prehistory of Burma (Myanmar) spanned hundreds of millennia to about 200 BCE. Archaeological evidence shows that the Homo erectus had lived in the region now known as Burma as early as 750,000 years ago, and the Homo sapiens about 11,000 BCE, in a Stone Age culture called the Anyathian. Named after the central dry zone sites where most of the early settlement finds are located, the Anyathian period was when plants and animals were first domesticated and polished stone tools appeared in Burma. Though these sites are situated in fertile areas, evidence shows these early people were not yet familiar with agricultural methods.[1]
The Bronze Age arrived c. 1500 BCE when people in the region were turning copper into bronze, growing rice, and domesticating chickens and pigs. The Iron Age arrived around 500 BCE when iron-working settlements emerged in an area south of present-day Mandalay.[2] Evidence also shows rice growing settlements of large villages and small cities that traded with their surroundings and as far as China between 500 BCE and 200 CE.[3] Bronze-decorated coffins and burial sites filled with the earthenware remains of feasting and drinking provide a glimpse of the lifestyle of their affluent society.[2]
Evidence of trade suggests ongoing migrations throughout the prehistory period though the earliest evidence of mass migrations only points to c. 200 BCE when the Pyu people, the earliest inhabitants of Burma of whom records are extant,[4] began to move into the upper Irrawaddy valley from present-day Yunnan.[5] The Pyu went on to found settlements throughout the plains region centred on the confluence of the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers that had been inhabited since the Paleolithic.[6] The Pyu were followed by various groups such as the Mon, the Arakanese and the Mranma (Burmans) in the first millennium CE. By the Pagan period, inscriptions show Thets, Kadus, Sgaws, Kanyans, Palaungs, Was and Shans also inhabited the Irrawaddy valley and its peripheral regions.[7]
^Cooler (2002): Chapter 1
^ abMyint-U (2006): 45
^Hudson (2005): 1
^Hall (1960): 8–10
^Moore (2007): 236
^Aung-Thwin (2005): 16
^Lieberman (2003): 114–115
and 27 Related for: Prehistory of Myanmar information
The prehistoryofBurma (Myanmar) spanned hundreds of millennia to about 200 BCE. Archaeological evidence shows that the Homo erectus had lived in the...
Military rule in Myanmar (also known as Burma) lasted from 1962 to 2011 and resumed in 2021. Myanmar gained its independence from the British Empire in...
Lower Myanmar (Burmese: အောက်မြန်မာပြည်, also called Lower Burma) is a geographic region ofMyanmar and includes the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta (Ayeyarwady...
Japanese occupation ofBurma was the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was occupied by the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had...
The State ofBurma (Burmese: ဗမာနိုင်ငံတော်; MLCTS: ba.ma nuingngamtau; Japanese: ビルマ国, Biruma-koku) was a Japanese puppet state created by Japan in 1943...
contains Burmese script. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead ofBurmese script. Burma (Myanmar) was...
The history ofMyanmar (also known as Burma; Burmese: မြန်မာ့သမိုင်း) covers the period from the time of first-known human settlements 13,000 years ago...
Myanmar was reconquered by the Allies. On 4 January 1948, Myanmar declared independence under the terms of the Burma Independence Act 1947. Myanmar's...
Professor, Mandalay University) The Story ofMyanmar told in pictures "Facts about Myanmar, History ofMyanmar". Archived from the original on 22 November...
dynasty (Burmese: ကုန်းဘောင်မင်းဆက်), also known as the Third Burmese Empire (တတိယမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), was the last dynasty that ruled Burma/Myanmar from 1752...
The current capital ofMyanmar (Burma) is Nay Pyi Taw. The following is a list of political capitals of notable states in Burmese history from the 9th...
of the monarchs ofBurma (Myanmar), covering the monarchs of all the major kingdoms that existed in the present day Burma (Myanmar). Although Burmese...
following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Myanmar: Myanmar, also known as Burma, is the most extensive country in mainland Southeast...
official name of the military government ofBurma (Myanmar) which, in 1997, succeeded the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Burmese: နိုင်ငံတော်...
This is a list of rulers and office-holders in the history ofMyanmar. Monarchs Early and legendary monarchs Arakanese monarchs Prime ministers Presidents...
a major ethnic group in Myanmar and a minor ethnic group in Thailand. The Mons from Myanmar are called Burmese Mon or Myanmar Mon. The Mons from Thailand...
dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from the mid-16th century to 1752. Its early kings Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung succeeded in reunifying the territories of the Pagan...
kingdoms were polities established by the Mon-speaking people in parts of present-day Myanmar and Thailand. The polities ranged from Dvaravati and Haripuñjaya...
list of wars that involve Myanmar (Burma). Burmese victory Burmese defeat Other result Ongoing Combatants of the internal conflict in Myanmar "Britain...
script. The Kingdom of Ava (Burmese: အင်းဝခေတ်, pronounced [ʔɪ́ɰ̃wa̰ kʰɪʔ]) was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma (Myanmar) from 1365 to 1555. Founded...
List of colonial governors ofBurma President ofMyanmar Vice President ofMyanmar Prime Minister ofMyanmar State Counsellor ofMyanmar Lists of Incumbents...
near the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal, the kingdom ruled over what is now Rakhine State, Myanmar and southern part of Chittagong Division, Bangladesh...
(in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. Than Tun (December 1959). "History ofBurma: A.D. 1300–1400". Journal ofBurma Research...
Energy crisis Impact of the Arab Spring#Burma/Myanmar – attempts to copy the methods of the 2011 Egyptian revolution Myanmar protests (2021–present)...
the ascent ofBurmese language and culture, the spread of Bamar ethnicity in Upper Myanmar, and the growth of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar and in mainland...
Retrieved 25 November 2015. Donald M. Seekins, Historical Dictionary ofBurma (Myanmar), p. 193 Kaung: Miex, Kaung: Max [Gaeng Miex, Gaeng Max] N23.33, Е99...
Global Information
Myanmar portal