Originally inhabited by the Arawak people, Cuba was claimed for Spain by Columbus in 1492. Development of the sugar industry from the 18th century, using imported slave labor, made Cuba the world's third-largest producer by 1860.

• 1868 End of the slave trade.
• 1868–1878 Ten Years' War for independence from Spain.
• 1895 Second war of independence. Thousands die in Spanish concentration camps.
• 1898 In support of Cuban rebels US declares war on Spain to protect strong American financial interests in Cuba.
• 1899 US takes Cuba and installs military interim government.
• 1901 US is granted intervention rights and military bases, including Guantánamo Bay naval base.
• 1902 Tomás Estrada Palma takes over as first Cuban president. US leaves Cuba, but intervenes in 1906–1909 and 1919–1924.
• 1909 Liberal presidency of José Miguel Goméz. Economy prospers; US investment in tourism, gambling, and sugar.
• 1925–1933 Dictatorship of President Gerardo Machado.
• 1933 Years of guerrilla activity end in revolution. Sgt. Fulgencio Batista takes over; military dictatorship.
• 1955 Fidel Castro exiled after two years' imprisonment for subversion.
• 1956–1958 Castro returns to lead a guerrilla war in the Sierra Maestra.
• 1959 Batista flees. Castro takes over. Wholesale nationalizations; Cuba reorganized on Soviet model.
• 1960 US breaks off relations.
• 1961 US-backed invasion of Bay of Pigs by anti-Castro Cubans fails. Cuba declares itself Marxist-Leninist. US economic and political blockade.
• 1962 Missile crisis: Soviet deployment of nuclear weapons in Cuba leads to extreme Soviet–US tension; war averted by Khrushchev ordering withdrawal of weapons.
• 1965 One-party state formalized.
• 1972 Cuba joins COMECON (communist economic bloc).
• 1976 New socialist constitution. Cuban troops in Angola until 1991.
• 1977 Sends troops to Ethiopia.
• 1980 125,000 Cubans, including "undesirables," flee to US.
• 1982 US tightens sanctions and bans flights and tourism to Cuba.
• 1983 US invasion of Grenada. Cuba involved in clashes with US forces.
• 1984 Agreement with US on Cuban emigration and repatriation of "undesirables" is short-lived.
• 1988 UN's second veto of US attempt to accuse Cuba of human rights violations. Diplomatic relations established with EC.
• 1989 Senior military executed for arms and narcotics smuggling.
• 1991 Preferential trade agreement with USSR ends. Severe rationing.
• 1992–1993 US tightens blockade. All former Soviet military leave.
• 1994–1995 Economic reforms to boost foreign trade and investment.
• 1996 US Helms-Burton Act tightens sanctions.
• 1998 Visit of Pope John Paul II.
• 1999 Leading moderate dissidents put on trial.
• 2001 Devastation by Hurricane Michelle.
• 2002 Guantánamo Bay used as high-security prison for captives from US "war on terrorism."
• 2003 Major crackdown on dissidents.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004