an Ancient Land, a Young Nation Dawn of Civilization: Discovery of the fossils of the Java Man (Pithecantropus erectus) provide evidence that the land now known as Indonesia was inhabited for more than one million years.

Since 3000 B.C.: Mongoloid tribes from the Asian mainland settled in the archipelago and intermarried with the original culture, followed by waves of Indo-Aryan tribes from the South Asian continent.

8th Century to 1400: The influence of Buddhist and Hindu religions spread from India, leading to a period of mighty kingdoms and great artistry. Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument, was built in the 9th Century in Central Java.

1292: Marco Polo sailed through the Straits of Malacca, stopping in Sumatra and making journal references to Java and the Spice Islands.

1400: Islamic culture was introduced in Sumatra, spreading later to Java and throughout the island, with the exception of Bali and the more remote islands.

1492: Christopher Columbus, sailing West in search of an alternate route to the "Spice Islands" or East Indies, reached America instead.

16th Century: European sea powers fought for control of the valuable spice trade, ending with the Dutch dominating the area as the Dutch East India Company and the Netherlands East Indies for 350 years.

1942: The islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II. Following Japanse surrender to the Allies, the Dutch tried to regain control, but Indonesia declared independence under the leaders of its National Movement, Soekarno and Hatta. Soekarno then became Indonesia's first President.

August 17, 1945: Birth of a new nation, Republic of Indonesia.