In the later years of the Empire , Myanmar was annexed by the British in three stages , in 1825 , 1852 , 1885 and became a British colony. Myanmar was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and inthe postwar period the independence movement , which had begun in the early 20th century , came to a climax and Myanmar attained independence on 4 January 1948.

The topography of Myanmar can roughly be divided into three parts: the western Hills Region, the Central Vally Region and the Eastern Hill Region. The Himalayan Range has a link with Myanmar and is known as the Western Yoma that runs to the south. The Khakabo Razi which is situated in the northernmost part of the Western Yoma is 19,296 feet high while the Sarameti is 12,553. The Western Yoma Range serves as a wall that separates Myanmar from India.

The Central Valley Regionconsists of the broadest valley of the Ayeyawaddy. The first part of the River Ayeyawaddy is from the region of river to Mandalay; the second part constitutes from Mandalay to Pyay and the third is the part from Pyay to the mouth of the river. The Central Valley Region consists of Sittaung Valley and Chindwin Valley. In the centre lies the small mountain ranges such as Zeebyu Taungdan, Min-wun Taungdan, Hman-kin Taungdan and Gangaw Taungdan. There also lies the low range of Bago Yoma that slopes down from north to south.

The Eastern Hills Region is the Shan Plateau which is average 3,000 to 4,000 feet above sea-level. Unlike the plain, the plateau has high mountain ranges and the River Than Lwin flows through the Shan Plateau to the northern Taninthayi Coastal Strip. The rivers of Shweli, Myitnge, Zawgyi and Pan-laung which have their sources at the Shan Plateau flow into the River Ayeyawaddy.