The History of Bali
Bali is part of the archipelago of Indonesia. Although Indonesia is a Muslim country, Bali remains predominantly Hindu. Bali made headlines in 2002 and 2005 when terrorists set off a series of bombs, killing hundreds. Nevertheless, Bali remains one of the most popular islands among tourists because of its culture and beauty.
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Early history
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Archaeological evidence shows that Bali was inhabited 3,000 years ago. Indian traders brought Hinduism to the island by the seventh century. The first written sources in Bali come from ninth century inscriptions.
Java
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Bali's history is closely tied with Java, an island located one mile to the east. King Airlangga of Java ruled Bali in the early eleventh century. After Airlangga's death, Bali remained somewhat independent until Kertanagara of Java conquered it in 1284.
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Majapahit Dynasty
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Although Kertanagara's control was short-lived, Bali again came under the control of the Javanese in 1343. The Majapahit dynasty gained control of it and ruled for over two centuries until it fragmented into warring states.
Dutch
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The Dutch first arrived in Bali in 1597, but did not start moving to the island in significant numbers until the eighteenth century. They started gaining control of the island in the late nineteenth century.
Modern History
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Japan occupied Bali during World War II. In 1946, the Dutch fought the Indonesians for its control, and in 1950 Bali became part of Indonesia.
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