Shan States

Shan States was a state in Burma (Southeast Asia) that lasted from c. 1250 to 1959 CE, about 709 years. Its people spoke Kra-Dai languages (Thai, Lao, Shan, Zhuang).

Tai-speaking Shan principalities ruled by hereditary saopha princes filled the hills east of the Irrawaddy. Often vassals of Burmese kings, they kept their rulers under British rule until the princes gave up their powers in 1959.

See Shan States on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1250 to 1959 CE

Duration

709 years

Type

State

Region

Burma, Southeast Asia

Language family

Kra-Dai

Events in Southeast Asia during its time

• 1287 Mongols invade Pagan
• 1288 Dai Viet defeats the Mongols
• 1293 Mongol expedition to Java
• 1405 Zheng He's fleets reach Malacca
• 1431 Ayutthaya sacks Angkor
• 1471 Dai Viet conquers Vijaya
• 1511 Portuguese capture Malacca
• 1521 Magellan killed at Mactan

Neighbours in Southeast Asia

• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE
• Majapahit Empire c. 1293 to 1527 CE
• Dutch East Indies 1800 to 1949 CE
• Malacca Sultanate c. 1400 to 1511 CE
• Indonesia 1945 CE to the present
• Champa c. 192 to 1832 CE
• Bruneian Sultanate c. 1368 to 1888 CE
• Sultanate of Sulu c. 1405 to 1915 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa

Questions