The periods of Okinawan history are divided up differently from those of Japan.
Paleolithic Period (ends c. 10,000 BCE)
Shell Mound Period (c. 10,000 BCE - c. 1000 CE)
- c. 10,000 - c. 2000 BCE - Initial Gestation Period
- c. 2000 - c. 1000 BCE - Early Shell Mound Period
- c. 1000 - c. 100 BCE - Middle Shell Mound Period
- c. 100 BCE - c. 1000 CE - Late Shell Mound Period
Gusuku Period (1100s-1429)
Marked by emergence of the anji (local chieftains/lords), construction of gusuku (fortresses), and introduction of pottery and porcelain technologies from China.
- 1187-1259 - Shunten Dynasty
- 1260 - c. 1354 - Eiso Dynasty
- 1314-1429 - Sanzan Period (Okinawa Island is divided into three kingdoms: Nanzan, Chûzan, and Hokuzan)
Kingdom Period (1429-1879)
Okinawa Island is united under the Ryûkyû Kingdom, and expands to incorporate much of the rest of the Ryûkyû Islands
- 1406-1469 - First Shô Dynasty
- 1469-1879 - Second Shô Dynasty
- 1609-1872 - Period under Satsuma han
- 1872-1879 - Ryûkyû han
Modern Period (1879 - present)
Incorporation into modern state of Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.
- 1879-1912 - Meiji Period
- 1912-1945 - Pre-war & World War II
- 1945-1972 - US Occupation
- 1972 - present - Reversion
Periodization in Sakishima
Archaeologists have divided the historical periods somewhat differently for the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands.
- Shell Mound Period prior to earthenware
- Shell Mound Period after introduction of earthenware
- Third Period (13th-15th centuries)
- Fourth Period (16th-17th centuries)
- Ryûkyû Kingdom Period
- Modern Period
References
- Suzuki Kakichi, et al. "Ryukyuan Architecture: Its History and Features," Okinawa bijutsu zenshû 沖縄美術全集, vol 5, Okinawa Times (1989), 89.