Early history and Indonesian Independence

The early history

Relics of Homo erectus fossils, anthropologists who also dubbed the "Java Man", suggests that the Indonesian archipelago was inhabited two million to 500,000 years ago. Austronesian people, who form the majority of the modern population, migrated to South East Asia from Taiwan. They arrived at about 2000   SM, and cause existing Melanesians there first pressed into areas far eastern archipelago. Conditions ideal place for agriculture, and control of rice cultivation since at least the 8th century BC, causing many villages, towns, and small kingdoms grow well in the first century AD. In addition, Indonesia is located in the international sea trade routes between islands, cruise lines have become between India and China for centuries. Indonesia's history has subsequently experienced a lot of the influence of the trading activity.

Under the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism, several kingdoms formed on the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java since the 4th century until the 14th century. Kutai, is the oldest kingdom in the archipelago which stands at 4th century upstream Mahakam, Kalimantan east. In the western region of the island of Java, in the 4th century until the 7th century AD stand Tarumanegara kingdom. Tarumanagara administration followed by Sundanese kingdom of the year 669 AD to 1579 AD In the 7th century Malay kingdoms emerged centered in Jambi, Sumatra. Beat Malay Srivijaya maritime empire and emerged as the most powerful in the nation. He ruled over Sumatra, Java, the Malay peninsula, while controlling the trade in the Strait of Malacca, the Sunda Strait, and the South China Sea. Under the influence of Srivijaya, between the 8th century and 10th dynasty Sailendra and Sanjaya kingdoms successfully develop- agriculture-based empire in Java, with its historic relics such as Borobudur and Prambanan temples. At the end of the 13th century, the Majapahit stood at the east of the island of Java. Under the leadership of Mahapatih Gajah Mada, its influence stretched over much of Indonesia today, and is often called the "Golden Age" in Indonesian history.

The arrival of Arab traders and Persia through Gujarat, India, and brought Islam. Besides Chinese sailors led by Admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He) who are Muslim, also never stop in this region in the early 15th century. The merchants also spread Islam in several parts of the archipelago. Samudera Pasai, established in 1267, is the first Islamic kingdom in Indonesia.

Indonesia is also a country that was colonized by many European countries and also Asia, is due to Indonesia since ancient times is a country rich in abundant natural result, to make the European countries intend tempted to colonize and dominate the natural resources for revenue for the country, countries that once colonized them are;

·                  Portuguese in 1509, only the Moluccas, and were driven on in 1595

·                  Spain in 1521, only North Sulawesi, but were repulsed by the year 1692.

·                  Netherlands in 1602, the whole of Indonesia.

·                  France is indirectly controlled Java in the period 1806-1811 due to the power of the Kingdom of the Netherlands defeated France. When Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Louis Bonaparte to the throne Netherlands in 1806, it will automatically fall into the hands of the Dutch colony of France. This period took place in the administration of Governor General Herman Willem Daendels in 1808 to 1811. Ended in 1811 when the British defeated the Dutch-French forces on the island of Java.

·                  England in 1811, since the signing of the capitulation Tungtang one of which contains the delivery of Java from the Netherlands to England, In 1814 the Convention was undertaken London ruled that the Dutch government it back on British colonies in Indonesia. And new in 1816, the British government officially ended in Indonesia.

·                  Japan in 1942, only 3.5 years, and ended in 1945, since the defeat of Japan to the Allies.

When the Europeans arrived in the early 16th century, they found several kingdoms that they can easily be mastered in order to dominate the spice trade. Portuguese first landed at the two ports, namely the Kingdom of Sunda Banten and Sunda Kelapa, but can be evicted and moved eastwards and master Maluku. In the 17th century, the Dutch emerged as the strongest among the other European countries, the United Kingdom and Portugal beat (except for their colony, Portuguese Timor). At the time that Christianity came to Indonesia as one of the old imperialism mission known as 3G, that is Gold, Glory, and Gospel. Dutch controlled Indonesia as a colony until World War II, initially through the VOC, and later directly by the Dutch government since the beginning of the 19th century.

Under Cultuurstelsel system (System Board) in the 19th century, large plantations and planting forcibly implemented in Java, eventually producing a profit for the Dutch VOC that can not be generated. During the colonial administration a freer after 1870, the system was abolished. After 1901 the Dutch introduced the Ethical Policy, which include limited political reform and greater investment in the Dutch East Indies.

During World War II, when the Dutch colonized by Germany, Japan controlled Indonesia. After getting Indonesia in 1942, Japan saw that a fellow Indonesian fighters trade cooperative and willing to deploy troops if necessary. Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, KH. Mas Mansur, and Ki Hajar Dewantara been honored by the Emperor of Japan in 1943.

Indonesian Independence

In March 1945, the Japanese set up a committee for the independence of Indonesia. After the Pacific war ended in 1945, under pressure from youth organizations, Soekarno-Hatta proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August 17 1945, which at that time was the month of Ramadan. After independence, the three founding fathers Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir each served as president, vice president and prime minister. In an attempt to retake Indonesian, Dutch send their troops.

Bloody efforts to curb the independence movement was then known by the Dutch as a 'police action' (Politionele Actie), or known by the people of Indonesia as a military aggression. Netherlands finally received the right for Indonesian independence on December 27 In 1949 as a federal state called the Republic of Indonesia after strong pressure from the international community, especially the United States. Integral Natsir motion on August 17, 1950, calling for the return of the unitary Republic of Indonesia and the United States of Indonesia disband. Sukarno back to the president with Mohammad Hatta as vice president and prime minister Mohammad Natsir.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Sukarno government began to follow once pioneered the non-aligned movement at first, then become closer to the socialist bloc, such as People's Republic of China and Yugoslavia. The 1960s witnessed the military confrontation against neighboring countries, Malaysia ("Confrontation"), and dissatisfaction with the growing economic difficulties. Erupted in 1965 G30S incident that caused the death of 6 people generals and other high officers. Emerging new forces that call themselves New Order Indonesian Communist Party immediately accused of being the brains behind this incident and intend to overthrow the legitimate government and replace a national ideology based socialist - communist. This charge as well as a reason to replace the old government under President Sukarno.

General Suharto became president in 1967 on the grounds to secure the country from the threat of communism. While the physical condition weakened Sukarno himself. After Suharto's rule, hundreds of thousands of Indonesian citizens suspected communist party were killed, while many more Indonesian citizens who are abroad, do not dare to return to their homeland, and eventually revoked his citizenship. Thirty-two-year reign of Suharto's New Order called, while the reign of Sukarno called Old Order.

Suharto implement neoliberal economic and successfully bring huge foreign investment to enter Indonesia and generate substantial economic growth, although not evenly. At the beginning of the New Order Indonesia both economic policy economists compiled by a group of graduates of the Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, who was called "Berkeley Mafia". However, Suharto and his family increase his wealth through corruption, collusion, and nepotism are widespread, and he was eventually forced to resign after a massive demonstration and deteriorating economic conditions in 1998.

From 1998 to 2001, Indonesia has had three presidents: Bacharuddin Jusuf (BJ) Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri. In 2004 elections in the world's largest single-day was held and was won by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Indonesia is experiencing economic problems, political and religious conflict in the country nuanced, and some areas are trying to gain independence, especially Papua. Official East Timor finally broke away in 1999 after 24 years of integration with Indonesia and 3 years under the administration of The UN became the state of East Timor.

In December 2004 and March 2005, Aceh and Nias two large earthquakes hit the total killed hundreds of thousands of lives. (See the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and March 2005 Sumatra earthquake.) This incident was followed by an earthquake in Yogyakarta and tsunami that hit Pangandaran Beach and the surrounding areas, as well as mud flood in Sidoarjo in 2006 are not being solved.