- First humans 60,000 years ago
- Jorge de Menezes and Portugal arrive (1526)
- British Territory of Papua (1883-1975)
- German New Guinea (1884-1919)
- Australian Territory of New Guinea (1914-1975)
- Australian Territory of Papua and New Guinea (1949-1975)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- New Guinea campaign (1942-1945)
- Papua New Guinea gains Independence (1972)
- Papua New Guinea earthquake (2018)
(This post includes any nation or civilization that occupied at least a portion of Papua New Guinea at some point. Unless specified otherwise, the dates correspond to when a nation or civilization existed, but do not necessarily correspond to occupation of Papua New Guinea.)
