See also: Chinese Taipei and Names of China Various names for the island of Taiwan remain in use today, each derived from explorers or rulers during a particular historical period.
The area occupied by modern-day Tainan represented the first permanent settlement by both European colonists and Chinese immigrants. The settlement grew to be the island's most important trading centre and served as its capital until Through its rapid development the entire Formosan mainland eventually became known as "Taiwan". The name also appears in the Book of Sui and other early works, but scholars cannot agree on whether these references are to the Ryukyus, Taiwan or even Luzon.
For instance, it is the name under which it has competed at the Olympic Games since , and its name as an observer at the World Health Organization. From prehistory until the 16th century Main article: Prehistory of Taiwan A young Tsou man Taiwan was joined to the mainland in the Late Pleistocene , until sea levels rose about 10, years ago.
Fragmentary human remains dated 20, to 30, years ago have been found on the island, as well as later artifacts of a paleolithic culture. This has led linguists to propose Taiwan as the urheimat of the family, from which seafaring peoples dispersed across Southeast Asia and the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Some of these fell under Dutch control, while others remained independent. This colony lasted 16 years until , when the last Spanish fortress fell to Dutch forces. Following the fall of the Ming dynasty , Koxinga Zheng Chenggong , a self-styled Ming loyalist, arrived on the island and captured Fort Zeelandia in , expelling the Dutch Empire and military from the island.
