Human habitation in the region dates back thousands of years.
Archaeological evidence suggests early communities practiced agriculture and metalworking in prehistoric times. Among the earliest known urban cultures were the Pyu city-states, flourishing between the second century BCE and the ninth century CE in central Myanmar. Influenced by Indian civilization, the Pyu adopted Buddhism and developed script, architecture, and trade networks linking them to China and India. Around the same period, the Mon people established thriving settlements in Lower Myanmar, contributing significantly to the spread of Theravada Buddhism and artistic traditions.In the ninth century, the Bamar people migrated from the north and established the Kingdom of Pagan in central Myanmar. Pagan emerged as a powerful and unified state under King Anawrahta in the eleventh century. Anawrahta embraced Theravada Buddhism and consolidated the kingdom through military campaigns and religious reform. The plains of Bagan became adorned with thousands of temples, stupas, and monasteries, many of which still stand today as remarkable architectural achievements. These monuments symbolize both spiritual devotion and artistic excellence. The Pagan period laid the cultural foundations of Burmese identity, including the central role of Buddhism and the Burmese language.
Following the decline of Pagan in the late thirteenth century due to Mongol invasions and internal fragmentation, Myanmar entered a period of political division. Regional kingdoms such as Ava, Hanthawaddy, and later Toungoo competed for dominance. Despite political instability, cultural continuity persisted, especially in literature, religious scholarship, and court traditions. The Toungoo Dynasty in the sixteenth century reunified much of the territory and expanded its influence into neighboring regions. This era saw the integration of diverse ethnic groups under a centralized monarchy, though tensions remained between highland and lowland communities. shutdown123