Eyewitness History of the World 2.0

MYANMAR

Until 1989 the Union of Myanmar was known as Burma.
UPPER AND LOWER BURMA
Burmas original inhabitants were displaced by groups of people 
migrating from central Asia. By the 300s BC the Mon settled in 
Lower Burma, and later arrivals, the Pyu, established a kingdom 
in Upper Burma. Both these peoples were Theravada Buddhists, 
and adopted elements of Indian culture. The Burmans came in the 
800s, around the same time as the Chins and Kachins. The Shans 
arrived from China in the 1200s, following a Mongol invasion 
of their territory.
THE PAGAN KINGDOM
Burma was unified for the first time in the eleventh century, 
when Anawrahta (died 1077) brought both the Pyu and the Mon into 
the kingdom of Pagan. Buddhism remained the basis of life in 
Pagan, which became an important religious center. Numerous beautiful 
and imposing shrines were built at this time. The kingdom lasted 
until 1287, when the capital was sacked by the Mongols. The country 
once again broke up into small states.
RIVAL STATES
By the late 1300s, two main states had formed. Burmans and Shans 
united into the Ava kingdom of Upper Burma, while the Mon ruled 
Pegu in the south. Civil war broke out between them, and lasted 
for about 100 years. Smaller states also joined the conflict. 
The country was eventually unified in 1531, under the Toungoo 
dynasty. Peace last until 1752 when the Mon rebelled once more.
KONBAUNG DYNASTY
Alaungpaya (died 1760), who restored order in the country, started 
as a minor official administering a few villages. He was the 
founder of the Konbaung dynasty which ruled Burma from 1752 to 
1885. Under Konbaung rule Burma reached its greatest power, defeating 
the Chinese armies that invaded between 1765 and 1769. Burma 
was also frequently at war with Thailand during this time.
ANGLO-BURMESE WARS
The British and Dutch traded with Burma from the 1600s onward. 
With British power growing in India and the expansion of Burmese 
frontiers under the Konbaung dynasty, conflict between the two 
was inevitable. War broke out in 1823, but the Burmese troops 
were no match against British arms. Britain annexed part of Burma 
under a treaty signed in 1826. War broke out again in 1852, and 
when it ended in 1853 Lower Burma was added to the British Empire. 
In 1886 Britain annexed the rest of the country. Guerrilla warfare 
continued in the villages, but by 1890 Burmese resistance had 
been brutally crushed.
BRITISH RULE
The British made Burma a province of India, which was bitterly 
resented by the Burmese, who had neither racial nor religious 
ties with India. British economic policies led to a breakdown 
of Burmese social structures, and the monasteries went into decline. 
Christian missionaries founded schools which sought to undermine 
Buddhism. The result was a growth in Burmese nationalism, marked 
in 1906 by the formation of the Young Mens Buddhist Association. 
There was some unrest during World War I (19141918), but it 
was easily suppressed. In 1937 Burma was split from India and 
became a separate dependency with its own government and constitution.
WORLD WAR II
From 1941 to 1945 Burma was occupied by the Japanese. The student 
nationalist groups initially supported the Japanese, but as the 
war progressed, their movement developed into the Anti-Fascist 
Peoples Freedom League (AFPFL). This coalition resisted the 
invaders, and prepared to campaign for full independence once 
the war was over.
INDEPENDENCE
In May 1945 the British government pledged to work toward full 
self-government in Burma. Led by Aung San (19161947), the AFPFL 
pushed to speed the negotiations. On October 17, 1947, a treaty 
making Burma an independent state was concluded. Aung San won 
the national elections, but was assassinated by political opponents 
before the Union of Burma came into existence on January 4, 1948.
UNREST AND ISOLATIONISM
Soon after gaining independence the government of Burma had to 
cope with rebellions from the countrys ethnic minorities, many 
of which were against inclusion in the Burmese union. A degree 
of peace was regained in 1951, but by 1958 the situation had 
grown worse. To help gain control of the country, the prime minister 
asked the army to take power until the 1960 elections. The government 
returned to office, but in 1962 General Ne Win (born 1911) seized 
power in a coup. He established an authoritarian socialist state 
that followed a policy of neutrality and limited foreign contact. 
Private trade was abolished, and industries were nationalized. 
In 1989 Burma changed its name to the Union of Myanmar.
THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
In the late 1980s the pro-democracy movement gained support. 
Following widespread demonstrations, General Ne Win resigned 
after almost 30 years in office. The military government agreed 
to hold elections in 1990. However, in 1989 the popular opposition 
leader Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945) was placed under house arrest, 
along with other members of her party. Although the opposition 
won the elections, the military government refused to give up 
power. Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 
1991, and released from house arrest in 1995. She has called 
for foreign states to isolate Myanmar on account of its human 
rights record. Throughout the 1990s, the government faced armed 
opposition from separatist movements among the countrys ethnic 
minorities.

Copyright 1995, 1998 Dorling Kindersley
