European colonialism has shaped Timorese history since 1515 a period when it was divided between the Dutch in the west of the island (now Indonesian West Timor), and the Portuguese in the east (now the independent state of East Timor).
Kolonialisme Eropa ikut membentuk sejarah Timor sejak 1515 ketika pulau ini dibagi antara Belanda di bagian barat (sekarang Timor Barat Indonesia), dan Portugis di bagian timur (sekarang negara merdeka Timor Leste).