The original inhabitants (now referred to as Amerindians) of the northern area of South America known as the Guianas and are related to other tribes of the continent.
1565 - Sir Walter Raleigh's exploration discovered the land now known as Guiana.
1594 -Sir Robert Dudley lands in Trinidad and makes inquiries about the ingenious myth created to make explorers go elsewhere, the Empire of El Dorado
1598 - First voyage to Guiana by the Dutch.
1621 - A charter for the Essequebo is received by the Dutch West India Company
1640 - First African slaves arrive in the colonies
1666 - War between England and Holland.
1763 -The Berbice (then a separate Dutch colony) Slave Rebellion
1781 - The colonies of Demerara, Essequebo, and Berbice taken by the English.
1782 - Under the command of the Marquis de Lusignan, the French allies of Holland, take the three colonies. The French build a new town called "Longchamps" near the mouth of the Demerara
1783/4 - The colonies are restored to Holland and they choose Longchamps as the capital and rename it "Stabroek".
1796 - Another war between England and Holland and the English again take the colonies
1802 - A treaty at Amiens returns the colonies to the Dutch
1803 - The war between England and Holland continues and the Dutch, once again, turn over the colonies to the English
1812 - Capitol city of Stabroek is renamed 'Georgetown' by the British
1814 - As a result of the great peace, the three colonies of Demerara, Essequebo and Berbice are assigned to England
1822 - A new town named New Amsterdam is constructed in Berbice
1835 - As African slaves gain freedom, labourers from Portugal are imported
1838 - On August 1, 1838, "Negroes were fully liberated"
1838 - The first East Indian indentured labourers from South India, arrive in Guiana.
1838 - By a new ordinance, the Colony is divided into three counties of Demerara, Essequebo, and Berbice.
1843 - Many labourers from India return to their homeland when the period of indenture ends
Mid 1840's - England suspends the indentured labourer system but allows labourers from India, Madeira Portugal and China under Government control.
1870 - Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River in central Guyana is discovered by a geological survey team
1874 - The last contract Chinese labourers arrive in Demerara.
1879 - The Botanical Gardens are constructed at the eastern end of the Georgetown's city limits
1880's -Inspired by Dutch architecture, Stabroek Market is constructed.
1899 - The country's borders are established by an International Tribunal
1946 -The population of Guiana established as 375,819 by census
1961 - As a prelude to independence from England, elections are held under Internal Self-Government Constitution with the PPP Party as winner
1966 -On May 26, 1966, British troops leave the colony of British Guiana. The new independent country changes it name to "Guyana".
1970 - Guyana restructures the government and becomes the "Republic Of Guyana".
