Explore the history of Taiwan from prehistoric times to the present day, with a map and a timeline of key events and cultures. Learn about the origins of the Taiwanese aborigines, the influences of Han Chinese, Japanese, and ROC, and the economic and political developments of the island.

Learn how Taiwan was colonized by the Dutch, Japan, and China, and how the Taiwanese resisted and suffered under the authoritarian rule of the Republic of China. Explore the events of the 2-28 Massacre, the longest period of Martial Law in modern history, and the transition to democracy.

Learn about Taiwan's geography, history, culture and relations with China from the official website of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Find out how Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times and how it has developed from a colonial past to a modern society.

The history of Taiwan is a subject of continuing research and debate both inside Taiwan and across the world. Below is a curated overview of key historical moments and developments in Taiwan’s history.

This essay critiques the Chinese colonial perspectives on Taiwan's history and highlights the new research that challenges them. It covers the aboriginal, Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese colonization of Taiwan and the colonial engineering of Japan.

The field of Taiwan history has gained increasing visibility in academia, both in Taiwan and abroad. Yet the production and dissemination of Taiwan-related knowledge in Taiwan before the lifting of martial law in 1987 faced great difficulty.

Learn how Taiwan's people, culture and politics have been shaped by its history, from ancient times to the present day. Explore the influences of China, Japan, the Dutch, the Qing empire, and more.

Taiwan, a small island off the southeastern coast of China, has played an outsized role in modern Asian politics. Long before it became a global flashpoint, however, Taiwan experienced a revolving door of migrants and foreign conquerors, each of whom left a distinct legacy behind.

Overview of important milestones: Taiwan's modern history goes back to around the 1550's, when the first Western ship -- from Portugal -- passed by the island, and named it "Ilha Formosa" (meaning "Beautiful island").