1500
Muslim merchants influenced and converted Hindu kings to Islam, the first being the Sultan of Demak. This Moslem Sultan later spread Islam westwards to Cirebon and Banten, and eastward along the northern coast of Java to the kingdom of Gresik.
1511
Pedro Alfonso, a Portuguese sailor discovered Ternate.
The Portuguese arrived in Indonesia, after their conquest of the Islamic Empire of Malacca. They were followed by the Spanyards. Both began to propagate Christianity and were most successful in Minahasa/North Sulawesi and Maluku, also known as the Moluccas. However, it wasn't until the arrival of the Dutch that Christianity became the predominant religion of North Sulawesi.
D'Abulquergue, the leader of the Portuguese ships opened a sea passage towards the Maluku islands.
1512
The trading Portuguese armada formally sent Antonio de Abreu to Maluku. In that year the Portuguese also sent three sailing ships to Manarow (todays Manado Tua island). From this island the Portuguese asked for help from the Babontehu tribe to introduce them to the Walak head of Wenang, Dotu Ruru-Ares.
The Portuguese already saw many Chinese Junk boats in the bay of Manado. Moreover, from the Chinese sailors the Portuguese obtained the location of Macao (and found it later in 1523).
1518
The purpose of the Portuguese coming to Wenang was to rent a piece of land. But the mission to rent land in Wenang failed because the Walak head Ruru-Ares disagreed to give them a place. After this failure the Portuguese then went to Uwuran (todays Amurang) and there they established Fort Amurang.
When they arrived in Uwuran, the Portuguese, who brought more traders and spiritual leaders than soldiers, did not yet dare to enter the hinterland. They could only .establish stone fortresses at the seaside and the islands around the Minahasa, like in Siauw.
1520
Meanwhile the Sultan of Demak in Java brought the downfall of the powerful kingdom of Majapahit. A strong Muslim empire developed with its center at Melaka (Malacca) on the Malay Peninsula.
1521
The route to the Maluku islands had only just been established by Portugal. Before then the leader of the Spanish ships, Ferdinand Magelhaens, found a sailing route as the Portuguese had done. The difference was that this route was made round the cape of South America crossing the Pacific Ocean and landing at the Sangir Talaud islands in the Sulawesi sea.
The Spanish established a trading office (Loji) in Wenang, located in pasar 45 (todays Pasar Jengky), with permission from the Walak head of Wenang, at that time it was Dotu Lolong Lasut.
Ban Han Kiong Temple,
Manado
Since a Spanish trading office was already present, the Chinese started to establish their place close to that office. Before then the Chinese as well as the Portuguese dropped their goods on the island Manarow, which at that time was more popular with the Spanish-Portuguese than Wenang.
The Spanish made the island Manarow a transit to take in drinking water. From that island the Spanish ships entered into the North Sulawesi mainland via the Tondano River (todays Manado River).
The Spanish wanderers made contact with the inhabitants through economic barter trade, starting at Uwuran (Amurang) on the banks of the river Rano I Apo. The barter goods were rice, resin, honey and other forest produce against fish and salt.
 "Click to enlarge")
 "Click to enlarge")
 "The Bay of Amurang")
