History of Taiwan: From the First Inhabitants to Modern Relations with China

First Settlers and Indigenous Cultures

Taiwanese history goes back several thousand years, beginning around 20,000 to 30,000 years ago with the earliest evidence of human habitation on the island. Their ancestors were migrants from the Southeast Asian mainland, and these first known to inhabit that place, so far, are the Austronesians. These original inhabitants developed cultures and languages, many of which survive today in various forms among the indigenous groups of the island. In fact, a long while before the arrivals of the foreign powers, Taiwan was home to a great number of aboriginal tribes. Each had its characteristic culture and language and social organizations. Later arrivals included the Atayal, Amis, Paiwan, and so forth who formed complex societies that drew the Taiwanese into agricultural, hunting, and fishing activities.

Of course, over the centuries, Taiwan's indigenous tribes had spotty contact with outsiders, mainly people from neighboring areas like the Philippines and the Asian mainland. That limited contact was largely limited to trade, whereby pelts, herbs, and handicrafts were traded for other commodities. At the same time, however, Taiwan remained relatively isolated from most of the historical currents then sweeping greater East Asia.

Early Chinese Influence and Settlements "The Sui Dynasty, 581–618 AD, officially launched recorded Chinese expeditions to Taiwan, none of which led to serious settlement or political authority in the territory. Indeed, the Yuan Dynasty had recognized Taiwan as part of its marine domain, but an administrative policy over this area had never been directly implemented. It was during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) that immigration into Taiwan began to take place, as Chinese fishermen, traders, and settlers ventured to that place with promises of fertile land and marine resources.

In spite of such initial contacts, however, Taiwan was virtually out of the direct administrative domain of Chinese imperial dynasties. Most of the colonizers during that time came from the southeastern coast of China, particularly from the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong.

Migrants introduced diverse Chinese customs, language, and agricultural practices, which over time made them blend with the indigenous population. By the late Ming period, there existed a loose, informal Chinese presence on the island; however, for the most part, Taiwan was substantially autonomous and only tangentially connected to mainland China.