The Forty Years' War Overview

A period of conflict lasting from 1385 to 1424 between Ava and Hanthawaddy, two prominent kingdoms in Myanmar.

The king of Ava at the start of the Forty Years' War, sought to rebuild the Bagan Empire.

The king of Ava who launched the Forty Years' War, aiming to expand Ava's territory southward.

The capital of Hanthawaddy, a major trading center and cultural hub.

The first human settlements in Myanmar, known for their hunter-gatherer lifestyle and use of stone tools.

An ancient civilization that introduced bronze tools and influenced Myanmar's culture.

A civilization that migrated from the Tibetan Plateau to Upper Myanmar, known for building city-states and being early followers of Buddhism.

A group of people from the Tibetan Plateau who established the Bagan Empire. They brought new ideas and traditions to Myanmar.

The kingdom founded in 1364 by King Thado Minbya after the collapse of smaller kingdoms. It was a successor to the Pagan Empire and aimed to unite Upper Burma.

The original name of Ava, meaning

The sacred and protective symbol of Ava's city walls, designed to look like a lion when viewed from above.

A sacred mountain in Buddhist cosmology, serving as a symbol of the king's divine authority in Ava.

The key city of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, a major trading hub and cultural center.

The capital of the Bagan Empire, a major cultural and religious center.

A river in Myanmar that was crucial for trade and transportation. It played a central role in the development of early settlements.

The founder of the Ava Kingdom, who united smaller kingdoms and aimed to restore the glory of the Pagan Empire.

The period of time between the end of the Stone Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age.

The period marked by the use of bronze tools.

The period of time characterized by the use of iron tools and advancements in farming and construction.

A key element of the Ava Kingdom's city design, incorporating a circular moat and walls that resembled a lion from above.

An early trade route connecting China, India, and Myanmar.

A sacred place in Buddhist cosmology, representing the center of the universe. It was symbolized in Ava through the king's palace.

The practice of cultivating rice in flooded fields, a key agricultural development in early Myanmar.

The primary religion of the Mon and Bamar, practiced in temples and monasteries.

A city-state with a planned layout, including walls and streets, that was a center of trade and learning.

A type of Buddhist temple structure, also known as a pagoda.

A period of time around 11,000 BCE marked by hunter-gatherer lifestyles and simple stone tools.

A period of time in history characterized by the use of polished stone tools and the beginnings of farming and settled communities.

A sacred symbol in Burmese culture, often depicted as a lion.

The cultural and religious center of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom.

The most important river in Myanmar, playing a crucial role in the development of early settlements and trade.

The founder of the Ava Kingdom, who united smaller kingdoms and set the stage for a new era of unity in Upper Burma.

The most significant cultural and religious center of the Pagan Empire, known for its thousands of temples and pagodas.