Two millennia of Indonesian history, distilled into key moments.
Homo erectus arrives and settles in Java, marking the dawn of human presence.
The tiny species lives and hunts in Flores alongside dwarf stegodons.
Saddled pig cave painting created in Leang Tedongnge, South Sulawesi.
Red-orange hand stencils painted on the limestone cave walls of East Kalimantan.
Seafaring Austronesians migrate from Taiwan, bringing agriculture and languages.
Ancient communities erect megalithic statues and menhirs in Sulawesi.
First written records in Indonesia appear on the sacrificial stone Yupas.
King Purnawarman builds canals and leaves his footprint inscriptions.
Dapunta Hyang leads a military campaign, establishing Buddhist hegemony.
King Sanjaya establishes the Hindu Mataram Kingdom in Central Java.
The massive Buddhist monument is finished under the Syailendra dynasty.
The grand Shiva temple complex is built, showing Hindu artistic heights.
South Indian Chola empire raids Srivijaya ports, weakening its monopoly.
The epic Javanese poem is composed during the golden age of Kediri.
Ken Arok defeats Kediri and establishes the Singasari Dynasty.
The first Islamic Sultanate in Indonesia is founded in Aceh.
Raden Wijaya defeats the Mongols and founds the archipelago's largest empire.
Mahapatih Gajah Mada vows to unite the entire Nusantara archipelago.
Mpu Prapanca writes the chronicle of Majapahit's territory and administration.
The first Islamic kingdom in Java is founded, replacing Majapahit's influence.
Portuguese forces capture Malacca, marking the start of European colonization.
Spanish expedition under Elcano arrives in Tidore to trade cloves.
Fatahillah expels Portuguese and renames Sunda Kelapa to Jayakarta.
Ternate expels the Portuguese, securing control over North Maluku spices.
Cornelis de Houtman lands in Banten, opening trade negotiations.
The Dutch East India Company is formed to monopolize the spice trade.
J.P. Coen destroys Jayakarta and builds Batavia as the VOC capital.
Sultan Agung of Mataram launches major military campaigns against Batavia.
Makassar War ends, forcing Sultan Hasanuddin to sign a treaty with the VOC.
Bankruptcy forces VOC's dissolution; Dutch government takes direct control.
Daendels builds a 1,000 km road across Java using forced labor.
Prince Diponegoro leads a massive rebellion against Dutch colonial rule.
Dutch introduce Cultuurstelsel, forcing farmers to grow export crops.
Aceh Sultanate fiercely resists Dutch invasion for over 30 years.
Queen Wilhelmina declares a debt of honor, focusing on education.
First indigenous nationalist organization marks National Awakening.
Islamic mass organizations emerge, mobilizing political consciousness.
Youth declare one motherland, one nation, and one language: Indonesia.
Japanese military forces invade and occupy the East Indies.
Soekarno and Hatta declare independence on August 17.
Indonesian fighters resist Allied troops, commemorated as Heroes' Day.
Dutch formally transfer sovereignty to Indonesia after the Round Table.
Indonesia hosts the historic Bandung Conference for post-colonial solidarity.
A failed coup attempt triggers a major political and social upheaval.
President Soekarno transfers executive authority to Soeharto, starting New Order.
Indonesia launches Palapa A1, unifying communication across the islands.
President Soeharto resigns, launching Indonesia's democratic transition.
First direct presidential election and the tragic Indian Ocean Tsunami.
UNESCO designates Indonesian Batik as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Indonesia begins relocation of the national capital to East Kalimantan.