History Papua New Guinea

 Historical dates

XVIc, discovery of New Guinea by the Portuguese.
1828, the Dutch, already established on the island a long time, take possession of the West (now Indonesian Irian Jaya).
Mid-XIXc: the British attempt to settle in the East.
1884, in order to counter the colonial views of the English, Germany take possession of the North-east area and several islands of the archipelago which they keep until 1914.
1906, the Australians run the South-eastern part of the country.
1921, after the war, the German zone goes under Australian mandate.
1930-1935, several expeditions are organized by Europeans to the Highlands where they meet tribes yet unknown.
1942-1945, occupation of several islands of the archipelago by the Japanese.
1963, Irian Jaya is passed over to Indonesia by the Dutch, beginning of the Indonesian colonisation.
1975, after a two year period of autonomy, the independence of the eastern part of the island is proclaimed. It becomes Papua New Guinea, a member of the Commonwealth.
1989, period of unrest on Bougainville island, which declares itself independent. Papua imposes a blockade and sends troops to protect the copper mines, its main source of wealth.
1998, the signature of a ceasefire agreement allows a progressive peace process.
July 1998: a tsunami devastates the North coast, killing over 2,000 people.