history of Sri Lanka

Table of Contents

Introduction
Sri Lanka’s prehistoric record
Early settlement and the spread of Buddhism
- Legendary origins
- Indo-Aryan settlement in Sri Lanka
- Conversion to Buddhism
Early growth and political centralization, c. 200 bce–1255 ce
- The Anuradhapura period
- The Polonnaruwa period
- Government and society
- The advent and impact of irrigation
- The fall of Polonnaruwa
Drift to the southwest (1255–1505)
- Political changes
- Social and economic changes
  - Collapse of the Dry Zone civilization
  - New cultivation techniques
  - Foreign trade
  - Land control
  - Cities
- Religious and ethnolinguistic changes
The Portuguese in Sri Lanka (1505–1658)
- The expansion of Portuguese control
- Kandy and its struggle with European powers
Dutch rule in Sri Lanka (1658–1796)
- Government
- Economy
- Law
- Religion
British Ceylon (1796–1900)
- Control of Kandy
- Social and administrative reforms
- Emergence of capitalist agriculture
Constitutionalism and nationalism (c. 1900–48)
- Constitutional reforms
- Growth of nationalist power
- Social and cultural changes
- Dominion status
Independent Ceylon (1948–71)
The Republic of Sri Lanka
- Civil war in Sri Lanka
  - Peace accord and discord
  - End of the war
- Aftermath and recovery
  - Reconstruction
  - Growing debt and instability
  - Ascent of the Rajapaksas and economic collapse

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Photos

Abhayagiri stupa, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

apsara figure in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

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S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

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