Updated: 02/08/2008 19:44:16

A brief history of Maldives History Paper The First Dhivehin  Who were the first settlers of Maldives? It is a difficult question to answer because all traces of their lives in these islands were lost a long time ago. There are the remains of ancient Buddhist temples dating from the 2nd century A.D. and some materials from even earlier times. Most exciting is the evidence gained from the dispersal of cowrie shells from the Maldives to many countries of the ancient world at a period further back in time, indicating a much earlier date for the peopling of these islands. Maldive cowrie shells called cypraea  moneta, dating back to more than 2000 B.C., have been found in China and the Middle East. Maldives was the only source for this type of cowrie, and was sometimes called the "Cowrie Islands" by Arab travellers. The Chinese knew that these shells originated in islands in the Indian Ocean. more   Maldives History in a glimpse Maldives, before the 16th Century Legend has it that the first Maldivian was converted to Islam by a travelling merchant in 1153. When IBN BATTUTA arrived in 1342, the entire population adhered to Islam. Ibn Battuta not only stayed on the island group for almost a year, but married into the Sultana's family, the Maldives at that time ruled by a woman, Sultana KHADEEJA REHENDHI KABAIDHI. Another travel account of the Maldives is provided to us by Frenchman FRANCOIS PYRARD, who was shipwrecked here in 1602. According to him, Male was trading with the Malabar coast, Bengal and Aceh. Maldives, 16th Century Only a few years after Vasco da Gama had discovered the sea route to India, the Portuguese, under FRANCISCO DE ALBUQUERQUE, established their Indian Ocean Empire. In 1503 the Portuguese sank the first Maldivian ships; in 1517 they signed a treaty with Sultan Kalhu Muhammad, which permitted them to establish a trading post in Male. In 1518 the Portuguese took Male; they were expelled in 1521. In order to reinstate an ousted Sultan, the Portuguese conquered Mahe again in 1558, ruling the islands until 1573 when the Portuguese garrison was ousted. Maldives 1796-1887 In 1645, the V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) established a protectorate over the islands, which lasted until 1796, when the Dutch/V.O.C. claims were ceded to Britain/the EIC. Maldives 1796-1887 In 1796, Britain (the EIC) had the Dutch (the VOC) claim over the Maldives ceded to her. In 1887 a treaty was signed with the local Sultan, which confirmed the Maldives' status as a British protectorate. Maldives 1919-1939 In 1887, a PROTECTORATE was formally established. The Maldives were placed under the administration of Ceylon at Colombo. In 1906 the first postage stamps for the Maldive islands were issued. bIn 1931, the population of the Maldives numbered 79,281, of whom 6,100 resided in the capital Male. Maldives 1939-1965 Formally the Maldives were a British PROTECTORATE. Yet, the British administration interfered little in domestic affairs. In 1947 India, Ceylon and Pakistan became independent; the Maldives, which remained British, in the eyes of the latter gained in strategic importance. In 1956 the British airbase on the island of Gan was extended. Prime Minister IBRAHIM NASIR pursued an obstructionist policy in regard to the British base; this caused a rebellion on islands the population of which depended on jobs offered by the base; the rebellion was suppressed in 1962. Independence, since 1965 In a 1965 treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the Republic of the Maldives. In 1968 a referendum abolished the Sultanate (Sultan Mohammed Fared Didi) and the REPUBLIC was proclaimed. IBRAHIM NASIR became the first president. In 1978, Nasir fled the country and MAUMOON ABDUL GAYOOM was elected president. Coup attempts in 1980 and 1988 failed. In 1995 the Maldives had 224,644 inhabitants, 62,973 of whom resided in the capital MALE. The population is virtually exclusively Muslim. Main export products are fish and fish products; the country with its many beautiful beaches recently attracts a growing number of tourists. The Maldives Olympic Committee was formed in 1985 and recognized by IOC the same year. 500 BC Possibly the first settlers arrive on the islands.  1152 AD Conversion to Islam; start of the sultanate.  1558 The Maldivian nation enters a dark era under  the Portuguese that lasts for approximately 15 years. 1573 Portuguese rule comes to an end after a successful Maldivian uprising. 1752  The Ali Rajas attack the archipelago, kidnap the sultan and take over the islands.  Their victory is short-lived and  after a few weeks the Maldivians gain their independence again.  1887 Maldives becomes a British protectorate. 1932 The first constitution is drawn but discarded in 1939.  1953  Maldives becomes a republic after abolishing the sultanate, but the country reverts back to the sultanate shortly afterwards.   1956 The British lease the island of Gan in the southern-most atoll of Seenu (Addu).  1957  Ibrahim Nasir is elected prime minister.  He changes the conditions of the lease on Gan and demands that the British stop employing local labour.   1959 Objecting to Nasir’s changes, the inhabitants of the three southernmost atolls protest against the government.  They form the United Suvadive Islands and elect a president, Abdulla Afif Didi.  1962  Nasir dispatches gunboats to end the rebellion in the southern atolls.  Afif Didi other leaders are banished to different islands.  1965 The British relinquish protectorate status.  Maldives becomes independent.  1968 The second republic is formed with Ibrahim Nasir as president.   1972 The country is opened to tourism.  1974 On 24th June a crowd gathers to protest against the rising food prices.  Nasir orders the police to open fire.  1978 Fearing for his life, Nasir retires to Singapore.  Abdul Gayyoom is elected the new president.  He denounces Nasir’s regime and banishes its corrupt members. 1980 An attempted coup against coup Gayyoom fails and more people are banished including foreign mercenaries. 1988 Gayyoom is re-elected for his third term of office.  A few months later local businessmen, aided by Sri Lankan mercenaries, try to overthrow the government.  The National Security Service manages to apprehend the perpetrators.    1993 1998 2003   President Abdul Gayyoom is elected for the fourth term. President Abdul Gayyoom is elected for the fifth term. President Abdul Gayyoom is elected for the sixth term.

Chronology of events related to the history of Meedhoo