Short History of Myanmar
MYANMAR 1. ETYMOLOGY * Derived from BAMAR * ‘Burma’ - spoken form * ‘Myanmar’ - literary form
2. BASIC FACTS * Official Name – Republic of the Union of Myanmar * Capital – Naypyidaw * Form of Government – Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic * President – Thein Sein * Vice-President – Nyan Thun (Navy Chief) * 2nd Vice-President – Sai Mauk Kham * World Organizations – UN (1948), ASEAN (June 23, 1997) * Ethnic Group – Burmans 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, Others 5% * Language – Burmese (Sino-Tibetan) * Currency – Kyat (K) * Religion – Theravada Buddhism 89%, Christianity 4%, Islam 4%, Others 2%, Hinduism 1% * Foreign Rulers – Chinese, Muslims, Indians, BRITISH, Japanese * Date of Independence – (from British) January 4, 1948 * Geography – largest country in the mainland SEA * Bordered on the NW by India and Bangladesh, NE by Tibet and China, SE by Laos and Thailand, S by the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea * Highest point is Hkakabo Razi in Kachin / highest mountain in SEA, along the borders of Myanmar, India and China / along the foothills of the Himalayas * Lowest point is Andaman Sea/Burma Sea, southeast of Bay of Bengal * Major rivers are Irrawaddy, Thanlwin, Sittang * Climate - Hot season is from March to May, rainy season is from June to October and cold season is from November to February
3. EARLY HISTORY * Pyu (1st century BC) – entered the Irrawaddy Valley / established city states * Mon (6th century BC) – southern part of Myanmar / had cultural and economic links with India > Buddhism * Mranma/Bamar/Burmans (9th century BC) – settled in the Irrawaddy basin / dominant ethnic group / started the Pagan empire
4. 1044-1077 * Founded by King Anawrahta * Flourished in the upper Irrawaddy Valley * Laid the foundation of the Burmese language and culture, the spread of Burman ethnicity, and
2. BASIC FACTS * Official Name – Republic of the Union of Myanmar * Capital – Naypyidaw * Form of Government – Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic * President – Thein Sein * Vice-President – Nyan Thun (Navy Chief) * 2nd Vice-President – Sai Mauk Kham * World Organizations – UN (1948), ASEAN (June 23, 1997) * Ethnic Group – Burmans 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, Others 5% * Language – Burmese (Sino-Tibetan) * Currency – Kyat (K) * Religion – Theravada Buddhism 89%, Christianity 4%, Islam 4%, Others 2%, Hinduism 1% * Foreign Rulers – Chinese, Muslims, Indians, BRITISH, Japanese * Date of Independence – (from British) January 4, 1948 * Geography – largest country in the mainland SEA * Bordered on the NW by India and Bangladesh, NE by Tibet and China, SE by Laos and Thailand, S by the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea * Highest point is Hkakabo Razi in Kachin / highest mountain in SEA, along the borders of Myanmar, India and China / along the foothills of the Himalayas * Lowest point is Andaman Sea/Burma Sea, southeast of Bay of Bengal * Major rivers are Irrawaddy, Thanlwin, Sittang * Climate - Hot season is from March to May, rainy season is from June to October and cold season is from November to February
3. EARLY HISTORY * Pyu (1st century BC) – entered the Irrawaddy Valley / established city states * Mon (6th century BC) – southern part of Myanmar / had cultural and economic links with India > Buddhism * Mranma/Bamar/Burmans (9th century BC) – settled in the Irrawaddy basin / dominant ethnic group / started the Pagan empire
4. 1044-1077 * Founded by King Anawrahta * Flourished in the upper Irrawaddy Valley * Laid the foundation of the Burmese language and culture, the spread of Burman ethnicity, and