Marco Polo was the first westerner to reach Indonesia and Aceh.

1590

Portuguese traders build stations from which they can facillitate trade with natives.

17th Century

Dutch obtained land from the Portuguese, they too set up trading posts.

Late 17th Century

English established trading settlements.

1819

English get full rights to Aceh. But then give it back to Dutch in 1824.

1873- 1942

Dutch fought with Acehnese intermittently. The Dutch thought the Acehnese were pirates, the Acehnese were tired of being a colonized territory.

1942-1945

Japan occupied Aceh

1947

Aceh became part of Indonesia

1959

Indonesian governement makes Aceh a "special territory", after much pressure from the Acehian people.

1976

Creation of GAM