Myanmar, officially Union Of Myanmar, also called Burma, Burmese Myanmar, or Pyidaungzu Myanmar Naingngandaw, is a country lying along the eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in southeast Asia.

The country covers an area of 677,000 square kilometers (261,228 square miles) ranging 936 kilometres (581 miles) from east to west and 2,051 kilometers (1,275 miles) from north to south, It is a land of hills and valleys and is rimmed in the north, east and west by mountain ranges forming a giant horseshoe. Enclosed within the mountain barriers are the flat lands of Ayeyarwaddy, Chindwin and Sittaung River valleys where most of the country's agricultural land and population are concentrated.

The length of contiguous frontier is 6,159 kilometres. The total length of Myanmar-Bangladesh boundary is 271 kilometres (168.7 miles). The total length of Myanmar-China boundary is 2,204 kilometres (1,370 miles); Myanmar-Thailand 2,107 kilometres (1,309.8 miles); Myanmar-India 1,338 kilometres (831.8 miles); and Myanmar-Laos 238 kilometres (147.9 miles).

Myanmar is the largest country in the South – east asia Peninsula and it is about the size of Texas and the size of United Kingdom and france combined. Over 50 percent of total land area is covered with forests.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Myanmar has a long and complex history. Many peoples have lived in the region and the history began. The first identifiable civilization is that of the Mon. The Mon probably began migrating into the area in about 300 BC, and their first kingdom Suwarnabhumi, was founded around the port of Thaton in about 300 BC. The Pyu arrived in Myanmar in the 7th century and established city kingdoms at Binnaka, Mongamo, Sri Ksetra, and Halingyi. During this period, Myanmar was part of an overland trade route from China to India. By 849, the Burmans had founded a powerful kingdom centered on the city of Bagan and filled the void left by the Pyu. The kingdom grew in relative isolation until the reign of Anawrahta (1044 - 77) who successfully unified all of Myanmar by defeating the Mon city of Thaton in 1057.

After the collapse of Bagan authority, Myanmar was divided once again. The Burman's had restablished themselves at the city of Ava by 1364, where Bagan culture was revived and a great age of Burmese literature ensued. The kingdom lacked easily defendable borders, however, and was overrun by the Shan in 1527.

Surviors of the destruction of Ava eventually established a new kingdom centered on Taungoo in 1531 led by Tabinshwehti (reigned 1531-50), who once again unified most of Myanmar. A popular Burmese leader named Alaungpaya drove the Bago forces out of northern Myanmar by 1753, and by 1759 he had once again conquered Bago and southern Myanmar while also regaining control of Manipur. He established his capital at Yangon.

In the 19th century , during the peak periord of colonialism , Myanmar was annexed in three stages by the British after three Anglo – Myanmar Wars in 1825 ,1852 and 1885.During the sSecond World War , Myanmar was occupied by the Japanese for nearly three years until the allied Force reoccupation in 1945.Myanmar became a sovereign independent state on January 04 , 1948.

THE PEOPLE

Myanmar is a union of 135 nationalities with their own dialects and traditions.The major races are Kachin , Kayah , Kayin , Chin , Bamar , Mon , Rakhine and Shan.The population of Myanmar is about 60 million.

CULTURE

Myanmar lies between two great civilizations , India and China , but it has developed its own distinctive culture.Buddhism has a great influence on daily lives of the Myanmar people.The people have preserved the traditions of close family ties , respect for elders and simple native dress.While tolerance and contentment are the characteristics of people , Myanmar hospitality is legendary.