History of Java - Details at-http://bit.ly/LxgK84

The Javanese are mostly descended from migrants who settled the island
in waves from about 4000 BC. Sawah - or wet rice - agriculture was
developed gradually from2000 BC, and trade with South India began as
early as the 3rd century AD. It's believed that this contact led to
the adoption of Hinduism in coastal kingdoms, while Southeast Asian
Buddhismwas also an influence and developed side by side with
Hinduism, along with older beliefs.
In 732 AD the Hindu King Sanjaya founded the kingdom of Mataram,
Java's first major political entity, which controlled much of central
Java and built the Borobudur temple complex. By the 10th century, King
Sendok's East Javanese kingdom was dominant; it was later extended by
Airlangga and split into two, the eastern Janggaraand the western
Kediri, after his death.
Mongols invaded Java in 1292, bringing to the throne a new king,
Wijaya, and a new kingdom, the Majapahit Empire, which would become
the most powerful and famous of Javanese kingdoms until it fell in
1400. By which time Islam was making serious inroads, especially in
coastal ports. Coinciding with Islam's rise was the arrival of the
Portuguese in 1511, soon followed by the Spanish, British and Dutch.
In the course of the 17th century, the Dutch became increasingly
militaristic and played their rivals off one another. By the early
19thcentury the Dutch had extended their influence over the sultanates
of the interior and claimed Java as Dutch territory.
During the Second World War, in 1942, the island came under the
control ofJapanese. When the Japanese left the island in 1945, Sukarno
proclaimedindependence but the Dutch returned and an armed struggle
ensued. Ultimately, Indonesia achieved independence in1949.