Geographically, Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok and is one of more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian Archipelago. Bali is small, stretching approximately 140 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south.

Running east to west and slightly off centre, are a string of volcanic mountains, the tallest and most recently active being Gunung Agung, which reaches 3142 m at its highest point and last erupted in 1963.
Lying just 8° south of the Equator, Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average annual temperature of around 28° C. The rich volcanic soil and healthy monsoon season make this island extremely fertile and a number of crops are grown here. The wide, gently sloping southern regions play host to Bali’s famed terraced rice paddies, among the most spectacular in the world. In the hilly, northern coastal regions, the main produce is coffee, copra, spices, vegetables, cattle and rice.

Although there are no artifacts or record dating back to the Stone Age, it is believed that the first settlers in Bali migrated from Cina around 2500 BC. By the Bronze era, around 300 BC, it is almost certain that quite an evolved culture existed in Bali. The complex system of irrigation and rice production still used today was established around this time.

For the first few centuries Anno Domini, history is vague. Although Hindu artifacts have been found dating back to the first century, the main religion about the time of 500 AD was more Buddhist in influence. A Chinese scholar, Yi – Tsing, in 670 AD reported on a trip to India that he had visited a Buddhist country called Bali.

It wasn’t until the 11th century that Bali received the first strong influx of Hindu and Javanese culture. With the death of his father in around AD 1011, the Balinese Prince, Airlangga, moved to east Java & set about uniting it under one principality.

Having succeeded he then appointed his brother, Anak Wungsu, as ruler of Bali. During the ensuing period there was a reciprocation of political & artistic ideas. The old Javanese language, Kawi, became the language used by the aristocracy & one of the many Javanese traits & costums adopted by the cause.

With the death of Airlangga in the middle of the 11th century, Bali enjoyed a period of autonomy. However, this proved to be short – lived and in 1284 the East Javanese king, Kertanegara conquered Bali and ruled over it from Java. In 1292 Kertanegara was murdered & Bali took the opportunity to liberate itself once more. However, in 1343 Bali was brought back under Javanese control by its defeat at the hands of Gajah Mada, a general in the last of the great Hindu – Javanese empires, the Majapahit.

With the spread of Islam through Sumatra & Java during the 16th century, the Majapahit empire began to collapse & a large exodus of aristocracy, priests, artists & artisans to Bali ensued. For a time, Bali flourished & the following centuries are considered the Golden Age of Bali’s cultural history. The principality of Gelgel, near Klungkung became a major centre for the Arts & Bali became the major power in the region, taking control of neighbouring Lombok and parts of East Java.


THE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE
Although the first Dutch seamen set foot on Bali in 1597, it wasn’t until 1800’s that the Dutch showed interest in colonizing the island. In 1846, having had large areas of Indonesia under their control since the 1700’s the Dutch government sent troops into Nothern Bali. In 1894 Dutch forces sided with the Sasak people of Lombok in defeating their Balinese rulers. By 1911 all the Balinese principalities had either been defeated in battle or had capitulated leaving the whole island under Dutch control.

After the First World War, Indonesian nationalist sentiment was on the rise, and in 1928 Bahasa Indonesia was declared the official national language. During World War II, the Dutch were expelled by the Japanese, who occupied Indonesia from 1942 to 1945.

After the Japanese defeat, the Dutch tried to regain control of their former colonies but on the 17th August 1945 Indonesia was declared independent by its first President, Sukarno. After four years of fighting and strong criticism from the international community, the Dutch government finally capitulated and in 1949 Indonesia was recognised by the world as an independent country.