Historically, Arakan may be detached from the other provinces.  The inhabitants represent an early migration from Tagaung and were not annexed by any kingdom in Burma until 1784 A.D.  Tagaung, situated on the Upper Irrawaddy in the Ruby Mines district, was the oldest capital of the Burmese and has a scanty history apparently going back to the early centuries of our era.  Much the same may be said of the Talaing kingdom in Lower Burma.  The kings of Tagaung were succeeded by another dynasty connected with them which reigned at Prome.  No dates can be given for these events, nor is the part which the Pyus played in them clear, but it is said that the Talaings destroyed the kingdom of Prome in 742 A.D.[125] According to tradition the centre of power moved about this time to Pagan[126] on the bank of the Irrawaddy somewhat south of Mandalay.  But the silence of early Chinese accounts[127] as to Pagan, which is not mentioned before the Sung dynasty, makes it probable that later writers exaggerated its early importance and it is only when Anawrata, King of Pagan and the first great name in Burmese history, ascended the throne that the course of events becomes clear and coherent.  He conquered Thaton in 1057 and transported many of the inhabitants to his own capital.  He also subdued the nearer Shan states and was master of nearly all Burma as we understand the term.  The chief work of his successors was to construct the multitude of pagodas which still ornament the site of Pagan.  It would seem that the dynasty gradually degenerated and that the Shans and Talaings acquired strength at its expense.  Its end came in 1298 and was hastened by the invasion of Khubilai Khan.  There then arose two simultaneous Shan dynasties at Panya and Sagaing which lasted from 1298 till 1364.  They were overthrown by King Thadominpaya who is believed to have been a Shan.  He founded Ava which, whether it was held by Burmese or Shans, was regarded as the chief city of Burma until 1752, although throughout this period the kings of Pegu and other districts were frequently independent.  During the fourteenth century another kingdom grew up at Toungoo[128] in Lower Burma.  Its rulers were originally Shan governors sent from Ava but ultimately they claimed to be descendants of the last king of Pagan and, in this character, Bureng or Bayin Naung (1551-1581), the second great ruler of Burma, conquered Prome, Pegu and Ava.  His kingdom began to break up immediately after his death but his dynasty ruled in Ava until the middle of the eighteenth century.

During this period Europeans first made their appearance and quarrels with Portuguese adventurers were added to native dissensions.  The Shans and Talaings became turbulent and after a tumultuous interval the third great national hero, Alaung-paya or Alompra, came to the front.  In the short space of eight years (1752-1760), he gained possession of Ava, made the Burmese masters of both the northern and southern provinces, founded Rangoon and invaded both Manipur and Siam.  While on the latter expedition he died.  Some of his successors held their court at Ava but Bodawpaya built a new capital at Amarapura (1783) and Mindon Min another at Mandalay (1857).  The dynasty came to an end in 1886 when King Thibaw was deposed by the Government of India and his dominions annexed.