History of the Philippines

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The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first
humans[1][2][3] using rafts or boats at least 67,000 years ago as the 2007 discovery
of Callao Man suggested.[4] Negrito groups were the first inhabitants to settle in
prehistoric Philippines. After that, groups of Austronesians later migrated to the islands.
Scholars generally believe that these social groups eventually developed into various
settlements or polities with varying degrees of economic specialization, social
stratification, and political organization.[5] Some of these settlements (mostly those
located on major river deltas) achieved such a scale of social complexity that some
scholars believe they should be considered early states.[6] This includes the
predecessors of modern-day population centers such
as Maynila, Tondo, Pangasinan, Cebu, Panay, Bohol, Butuan, Cotabato, Lanao,
and Sulu[2] as well as some polities, such as Ma-i, whose possible location are still the
subject of debate among scholars.[7]
These polities were either influenced by the Hindu-
Buddhist[8] Indian religion, language, culture, literature and philosophy from India through
many campaigns from India including the South-East Asia campaign of Rajendra Chola
I,[9] Islam from Arabia or were Sinified tributary states allied to China. These small
maritime states flourished from the 1st millennium. [10][11] These kingdoms traded with what
are now called China, India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. [12] The remainder
of the settlements were independent barangays allied with one of the larger states.
These small states alternated from between being part of or being influenced by larger
Asian empires like the Ming Dynasty, Majapahit and Brunei or rebelling and waging war
against them.