History
An historical timeline of events that took place during the earliest settlements on the land that would eventually be known as Indonesia.
Colonization
The timeline above shows major events in Indonesian history. One subject that is focused on is the colonization of these islands, which started with Portugal in the 15th century. Spice trade was becoming one of the largest money makers in the world's new international market, and the region we know now as Indonesia grew many of them. Portugal stated a successful trade system but was unable to sustain it with the archipelago's various governments, and they lost control to the Dutch in the 16th century. The Netherlands were able to establish a single government for the area. They named it the Dutch East Indies and created one of the largest trading companies of their time called the Dutch East Indies Company or VOC. The Dutch would maintain control of the islands and their trade until 1800, keeping the majority of the indigenous populations in bondage or indentured servitude. The Napoleonic Era would shift control of the area to the French in 1800, then Great Britain in 1811, but would be returned to the Dutch in 1815 where they would maintain an economic hold of the area for another century. It wouldn't be until the invasion of the Japanese during WWII that the native people would truly hunger for independence from all foreign control. Following the war, control on the island nation was given back to the Netherlands, but this time the people of the Dutch East Indies were fighting the status quo, and going as far as to destroy their own properties just to keep them out of the hands of the Dutch. In 1946, Indonesia found its independence, and has not relinquished it since.