MAPS OF HISTORY · HISTORY OF · Philippines
ONE LAND · 3 ATLASES
Philippines, on the map of history
What was Philippines before it was Philippines? Below, every era of this land in the Maps of History collection — who ruled it, what it was called, and when control changed — each line linked to the dated map that shows it. Modern borders stand in as an honest approximation; every atlas says so on the map itself.
Philippines · The Great War, 1914–1918
Philippines · The War Room — WW2, 1936–1945
American colony promised independence; overrun by Japan in 1942 (Bataan death march), site of MacArthur’s promised return at Leyte (1944) and the devastating Battle of Manila. Independent 1946 — the first domino of postwar decolonization.
| JUL 1937 | Western Allies — the opening position |
| MAY 1942 | Axis-occupied |
| OCT 1944 | Western Allies |
Philippines · The Cold War, 1945–1991
| AUG 1945 | NATO & core Western allies — the opening position |
| OCT 1949 | US-aligned states |
OPEN THE COLD WAR ON THE LIVING MAP →
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