The pre-colonial period in the Philippines refers to the time before the Spanish colonization in 1565). Here are some key facts about this period:
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Politics: The political system in the early Philippines was led by leaders called "Datus," who were responsible for ruling autonomous groups called "barangay" or "dulohan".
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Culture: The pre-colonial Philippines was influenced by spiritual traditions from indigenous animism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The countrys many languages underline the numerous narratives that exist in the Philippines, each language delineating a locale.
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Trade: The Philippines engaged in healthy trade with various cultures and economies in the region and foreign traders.
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Archaeology: The islands of the Philippines have a varied and diverse human history possibly going back 700,000 years and involving multiple cultures and even species.
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Religion: The majority of the Philippines is Christianized, but before the Spanish colonization, the country was influenced by indigenous animism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Overall, the pre-colonial period in the Philippines was a time of diverse cultures, politics, and religions. It was a period of healthy trade and diverse languages, and it laid the foundation for the countrys future development.