History of Myanmar

The history of Myanmar traces the societies and states of mainland Southeast Asia that developed within its present borders, from early settlements through modern political change.

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Pyu city-states: A network of early urban centers in Upper Myanmar, flourishing roughly from the second to ninth centuries CE. Their cities and Buddhism predate the first unified Burmese kingdom.
Toungoo dynasty: A Burmese royal dynasty that built a large empire in mainland Southeast Asia during the sixteenth century. Its expansion and eventual fragmentation show how dynastic power rose and weakened.
Aung San: A Burmese independence leader and military organizer assassinated in 1947, before independence. His negotiations and assassination shaped the founding of independent Burma.
Panglong Agreement: A 1947 agreement between Aung San and representatives of several frontier peoples concerning cooperation toward independence. Its promises and exclusions remain central to disputes over federalism and ethnic autonomy.
State Law and Order Restoration Council: The military government that ruled Myanmar from 1988 to 1997 after suppressing a nationwide uprising. Its rule followed the 1988 uprising and preceded a new military constitution.
Pagan Kingdom: A Burmese kingdom centered at Pagan that flourished from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries. Its rulers unified much of the Irrawaddy basin and built thousands of Buddhist monuments.
Konbaung dynasty: The last Burmese royal dynasty, ruling from 1752 until the British annexation of Upper Burma in 1885. Its wars and reforms preceded the loss of sovereignty to Britain.
U Nu: A Burmese politician who served as prime minister during the early years of independence. His governments navigated parliamentary rule, civil conflict, and Buddhist political identity.
Karen National Union: A Karen political organization founded in 1947 that has led an armed movement for greater self-determination. Its insurgency became one of the world's longest-running internal conflicts.
2008 Constitution of Myanmar: Myanmar's constitution adopted after a 2008 referendum, reserving substantial political power for the military. It structured the limited electoral opening that began in 2011.