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History of the Philippines

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Prehistory (pre–900)[show]

Archaic epoch (900–1565)[show]

Colonial period (1565–1946)[show]

Post-colonial period (1946–1986)[show]

Contemporary history (1986–present)[show]

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Timeline

Archaeology

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Culture of the Philippines

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History[show]

People

Languages

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Mythology and folklore[show]

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The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans[1][2][3] using
rafts or boats at least 67,000 years ago as the 2007 discovery of Callao Man suggested.[4] Negrito
groups first inhabited the isles. Groups of Austronesians later migrated to the islands.

Scholars generally believe that these social groups eventually developed into various settlements or
polities with varying degrees of economic specialization, social stratification, and political
organization.[5] Some of these settlements (mostly those located on major river deltas) achieved such a
scale of social complexity that some scholars believe they should be considered early states.[6] This
includes the predecessors of modern-day population centers such as Maynila, Tondo, Pangasinan, Cebu,
Panay, Bohol, Butuan, Cotabato, Lanao, and Sulu[2] as well as some polities, such as Ma-i, whose
possible location are still the subject of debate among scholars.[7]

These polities were either influenced by the Hindu-Buddhist[8] Indian religion, language, culture,
literature and philosophy from India through many campaigns from India including the South-East Asia
campaign of Rajendra Chola I,[9] Islam from Arabia or were Sinified tributary states allied to China.
These small maritime states flourished from the 1st millennium.[10][11] These kingdoms traded with
what are now called China, India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.[12] The remainder of the
settlements were independent barangays allied with one of the larger states. These small states
alternated from between being part of or being influenced by larger Asian empires like the Ming
Dynasty, Majapahit and Brunei or rebelling and waging war against them.

The first recorded visit by Europeans is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan. He sighted Samar Island on
March 16, 1521 and landed the next day on Homonhon Island, now part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.[13]
Spanish colonization began with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition on February 13,
1565 from Mexico. He established the first permanent settlement in Cebu.[14] Much of the archipelago
came under Spanish rule, creating the first unified political structure known as the Philippines. Spanish
colonial rule saw the introduction of Christianity, the code of law and the oldest modern university in
Asia. The Philippines was ruled under the Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain. After which, the
colony was directly governed by Spain.

Spanish rule ended in 1898 with Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War. The Philippines then
became a territory of the United States. U.S forces suppressed a Philippine Revolution led by Emilio
Aguinaldo. The United States established the Insular Government to rule the Philippines. In 1907, the
elected Philippine Assembly was set up with popular elections. The U.S. promised independence in the
Jones Act.[15] The Philippine Commonwealth was established in 1935, as a 10-year interim step prior to
full independence. However, in 1942 during World War II, Japan occupied the Philippines. The U.S.
military overpowered the Japanese in 1945. The Treaty of Manila in 1946 established an independent
Philippine Republic.