The History of Indonesia was started by the presence of many kingdoms spreading all around the archipelago. The two most well-known kingdoms which laid a great importance in the History of Indonesia were Sriwijaya and Majapahit. The Sriwijaya kingdom was located on Sumatera and ruled from the 7th to 14th century. While Majapahit kingdom was located on the eastern Java and it was the first kingdom that was able to unite all main islands in the archipelago, such as Java, Borneo (Kalimantan),Sumatera, Bali and also some parts of the Malay Peninsula.

The History of Indonesia cannot be separated from the Europe colonization. Marco Polo was passing though the Indonesian Archipelago in the late 1200s, but the first to arrive and land on Indonesia were the Portuguese. They landed near to the place that is now called as Jakarta in 1522. The Portuguese colonization didn’t last very long, and by the end of 16th century the Dutch took over the power. The Dutch colonization in Indonesia (especially in Java) was more secured in 1619, when they won the razing of an English competing fort. The Dutch colonization was lasting for the next 350 years

The History of Indonesia was then followed by the arising of many Nationalist groups in the early 1900s. These Nationalist movements were tackled by the Dutch immediately. The Nationalist group’s leaders were arrested and exiled in order to put down the spirit. Not long after that the World War II happened, and the Japanese defeated the Dutch conquering most parts of Indonesia islands. After the World War II ended, Soekarno and Hatta were forced by the youth to immediately taking an advantage of the power un-occupancy in Indonesia. They then declared the Independence of the Republic Indonesia on August 17th, 1945, and they are known as the founding fathers of Indonesia. The Independence declaration was not admitted by the Dutch until December 27th, 1949. Following the Dutch admittance, the 1950 constitution was established as an attempt to implement the Liberal democracy that had 2 parliament chambers. The first Indonesian election was then conducted in 1955.

Sukarno’s tribute to independence and unity — National Monument, Jakarta

Soekarno disbanded the parliament and cabinet himself in 1959. He then assigned himself as a PM and created a parliament under his autocratic rule called as a Guided Democracy. Soekarno was disappointed with the West policies and decided to make an alignment with Moscow. He then established a new Communist party, and assigned Dr Subandrio as the deputy PM and intelligence chief. During the implementation of the Guided Democaracy, the government faced many striking problems. The hardest ones were the revolution attempted by the communist, the rebellion of the anti-communist that was backed up by CIA in West Sumatera and North Sulawesi, and also the 7th Fleet offshore.

There new era of the History of Indonesia was then continued in 1965, when Dr. Subandrio constructed a document that was supposedly taken from the British Embassy. The document contained a detailed plan of a military coup d’état. Because of this threatening document, the Presidential guard under Colonel Untung conducted prevention attempt by killing the officers involved and announced that Dr. Subandrio supported by some other leftist Indonesian leaders had established a Revolutionary Council as an attempt to take over the governmental power. Then, General Soeharto was assigned to put down any rebellion attempt under Dr’ Subandrio and was successfully done within a single day only. After that Soekarno was slided, and the power was seized by Soeharto himself. He then proclaimed a new era of governmental system known as a New Order (Order Baru). Under Soeharto command, the anti-communist movements were initiated. The result led to the death of around 500,000 – 2,000.000 people.

Soeharto ruled Indonesia from 1966 to 1997. During his government, Indonesia experienced an economic growth and stability. However, any opposing movement confronting the government policies would be slaughtered. The country’s wealth was also enjoyed by small corrupt elite only. Coming to the year of 1997 when the Asian economic crisis happened, the Reformation movement was burning up because the Indonesian rupiah felt resulting in the decrease purchasing ability of the ordinary Indonesians twice as much as before. Because of this rebellion, Soeharto was brought down and the new democratic system took place.

The Indonesian Independence Declaration declared that West Papua was included in the Indonesian archipelago, but the Dutch was not admitted it until 1960s. It led to an army conflict. An attempt for a peace was conducted under the UN representation, and finally a referendum was established stating that West Papua was a part of Indonesia. West Papua was then renamed as Irian Jaya containing an abbreviation that stands for Ikut (part of) Republic of Indonesia, Anti Netherlands.

The East Timor as the former of the Portuguese colony was seized into Indonesian in 1975, but it was resisted by the East Timor army. The armed resistance led to the civil war for over decades, but on August 30th 1999, there was a provincial referendum for independence that was supported by the majority of East Timor people. The Indonesian government reluctantly accepted the referendum, and eventually, East Timor declared its independence in 2002.

You can read complete article here : Indonesia History

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HISTORY OF BANDUNG

The map of Ancient Bandung as Pre-historical Lake.

The history of Bandung dates from 1488 when the first reference to Bandung exists. But from ancient archeological finds, we know the city was home to Australopithecus, Java Man. These people lived on the banks of the Cikapundung in north Bandung, and on the shores of the Great Lake of Bandung. Flint artifacts can still be found in the Upper Dago area and the Geological Museum has displays and fragments of skeletal remains and artifacts.

The Sundanese were a pastoral people farming the fertile regions of Bandung. They developed a lively oral tradition which includes the still practiced Wayang Golek puppet theatre, and many musical forms. “There is a city called Bandung, comprising 25 to 30 houses,” wrote Juliaen de Silva in 1614.

The achievements of European adventurers to try their luck in the fertile and prosperous Bandung area, led eventually to 1786 when a road was built connecting Jakarta, Bogor, Cianjur and Bandung. This flow was increased when in 1809 Louis Napoleon, the ruler of the Netherlands, ordered Governor General H.W. Daendels, to increase defences in Java against English. The vision was a chain of military defense units and a supply road between Batavia and Cirebon. But this coastal area was marsh and swamp, and it was easier to construct the road further south, across the Priangan highlands.

The Grote Postweg (Great Post Road) was built 11 miles north of the then capital of Bandung. With his usual terseness, Daendels ordered the capital to be relocated to the road. Bupati Wiranatakusumah II chose a site south of the road on the western bank of the Cikapundung, near a pair of holy wells, Sumur Bandung, supposedly protected by the ancient goddess Nyi Kentring Manik. On this site he built his dalem (palace) and the alun-alun (city square). Following traditional orientations, Mesjid Agung (The Grand Mosque) was placed on the western side, and the public market on the east. His residence and Pendopo (meeting place) was on the south facing the mystical mountain of Tangkuban Perahu. Thus was The Flower City born.

Around the middle of the l9th Century, South American cinchona (quinine), Assam tea, and coffee was introduced to the highlands. By the end of the century Priangan was registered as the most prosperous plantation area of the province. In 1880 the rail line connecting Jakarta and Bandung was completed, and promised a 2 1/2 hour trip from the blistering capital in Jakarta to Bandung.

With this life changed in Bandung, hotels, cafes, shops sprouted up to serve the planters who either came down from their highland plantations or up from the capital to frolic in Bandung. The Concordia Society was formed and with its large ballroom was the social magnet for weekend activities in the city. The Preanger Hotel and the Savoy Homann were the hotels of choice. The Braga became the promenade, lined with exclusive Europeans shops.

With the railroad, light industry flourished. Once raw plantation crops were sent directly to Jakarta for shipment to Europe, now primary processing could be done efficiently in Bandung. The Chinese who had never lived in Bandung in any number came to help run the facilities and vendor machines and services to the new industries. Chinatown dates from this period.

In the first years of the present century, Pax Neerlandica was proclaimed, resulting in the passing of military government to a civilian one. With this came the policy of decentralization to lighten the administrative burden of the central government. And so Bandung became a municipality in 1906.

This turn of events left a great impact on the city. City Hall was built at the north end of Braga to accommodate the new government, separate from the original native system. This was soon followed by a larger scale development when the military headquarters was moved from Batavia to Bandung around 1920. The chosen site was east of City Hall, and consisted of a residence for the Commander in Chief, offices, barracks and military housing.

By the early 20′s the need for skilled professionals drove the establishment of the technical high school that was sponsored by the citizens of Bandung. At the same time the plan to move the capital of the Netherlands Indies from Batavia to Bandung was already mature, the city was to be extended to the north. The capital district was placed in the northeast, an area that had formerly been rice fields, and a grand avenue was planned to run for about 2.5 kilometers facing the fabled Mount Tangkuban Perahu volcano with Gedung Sate Bandung at the south end, and a colossal monument at the other. on both sides of this grand boulevard buildings would house the various offices of the massive colonial government.

Along the east bank of the Cikapundung River amidst natural scenery was the campus of the Technische Hoogeschool, dormitories and staff housing. The old campus buildings and its original landscaping reflect the genius of its architect Henri Maclain Pont. The southwestern section was reserved for the municipal hospital and the Pasteur Institute, in the neighborhood of the old quinine factory. These developments were carefully planned down to the architectural and maintenance details. These years shortly before World War II were the golden ones in Bandung and those alluded to today as Bandung Tempoe Doeloe.

The war years did little to change the city of Bandung, but in 1946, facing the return of the Colonial Dutch to Indonesia, citizens chose to burn down their beloved Bandung in what has become known as Bandung Lautan Api, Bandung Ocean of Fire. Citizens fled to the southern hills and overlooking the “ocean of flames” penned “Halo Halo Bandung,” the anthem promising their return. Political unrest colored the early years of Independence and consequently people flocked to Bandung where safety was. The population skyrocketed from 230,000 in 1940 to 1 million by 1961. Economic prosperity following the oil boom in the 70′s pushed this further so that by 1990 there were 2 million inhabitants.

Present day Bandung is thriving. As home to more than 35 schools of higher education, there is a vibrant collegiate atmosphere. The excellent fine arts offerings have produced an artist colony of great repute and excitement. The textile industry is the largest in the country and contributes to a vigorous business climate.

In 1987 the city extended its administrative boundaries toward a Greater Bandung Plan (Bandung Raya) Plans for the city include higher concentrations of development outside the current city centre, in an attempt to dilute some of the population density in the old core. These days Bandung Raya is still years ahead, yet the land has suffered deeply. Commercial activities run amok, God only knows who can take control. The city core is practically uprooted, old faces are torn down, lot sizes regrouped, and what was idyllic residence is now bustling chain supermarkets and rich banks.

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