A Brief History of the Philippines from a Filipino Perspective

Pre-Colonial Period

The oldest human fossil remains are found in Palawan, on the western fringe of the archipelago. These remains are about 30,000 years old, suggesting that the first human migrations to the islands took place during the last Ice Age, when land bridges' connected the archipelago to mainland Asia and Borneo.

The islands were eventually inhabited by different groups that developed domestic trade linkages

archaeological evidence shows a rich pre- colonial culture

skills in weaving ship-building mining and goldsmithing  

500 B.C

Trade linkages existed with the powerful Hindu empires in Java and Sumatra.

10th century A.D

Trade ties with China

12th centuryArab traders reached its peak

Spaniards arrived

12th centuryIslam was well established in Mindanao and had started to influence groups as far north as Luzon.

The Spanish Occupation

feudal system

 concentrating populations under their control into towns and estates.

During the first two centuries of their occupation,

Spaniards used the Philippines mainly as a connecting point for their China-Acapulco (Mexico) trade.

The U.S. Occupation (1898-1946)

economic systemThe United States

established an economic system giving the colonizers full rights to the country's resources.

Second World War

flag independence was regained although the U.S. imposed certain conditions, including the disenfranchisement of progressive political parties, the retention of U.S. military bases and the signing of economic agreements allowing the U.S. continued control over the Philippine economy.

The Philippine Republic (1946 - Present)