about 8500 BC.:

first settlers arrived in Finland with the end of the last ice age
There two theories regarding the origin of the Finnish population. One theory says that Finland was settled by people who came from beyond the Ural Mountains. The other theory says that there were several waves of immigration by people of many different areas, who intermingled afterwards

about 1700 BC.:

first records of agriculture and stock farming

about 100 BC:

increasing trade with countries of Middle Europe

8th century AD:

Viking Age, extensive trade with Baltic areas

around 1000:

close relations between Eastern Finland and Nowgorod, first contact with Christianity

12th century:

Sweden in the west and Nowgorod in the east start to compete for the Finnish area -> Swedish Crusades to Finland

1276:

christianization of Finland completed with the foundation of Turku

1323:

Treaty of Nöteborg sets borders between Sweden and Nowgorod, Finland becomes a part of Sweden and is named Österland

14-16th century:

As part of Sweden Finland is also included in the Kalmar Union, which dissolved in the 16th century with the election of King Gustav I. Wasa

16th century:

Catholicism is replaced by Lutheranism in the course of Reformation

1714-1721:

The Great Nordic War brought an end to Sweden´s period as a major power, Finland is occupied by Russia, the occupation ends with the Peace of Nystad

1741-1743:

Hats` Russian War, Finland again is occupied by Russia; Eastern Finnish border is placed far more west.

1808:

Russia allies with France against England and Sweden -> Finnish War<>
Sweden has to assign large areas of Finland to Russia -> Grand Duchy of Finland under the Russian Empire

1906:

formation of a parliament in Finland, women have the right to vote for the first time in Europe

1917:

Declaration of Indepences on December 6

1918:

Independence from Russia caused conflicts that climaxed in a Civil War

World War II:

Soviet Union attacts Finland on November 30, 1939 -> Winter War
March 13, 1940: Moscow Peace Treaty, Finland ceded great parts of Karelia to Russia
1941: Continuation War against Russia
1944: Separate Peace Treaty with Russia

1990+:

Economic crisis due to the break-down of the Soviet Union

1995:

Accession of Finland to the EU