文莱古称渤泥。自古为酋长统治。１５世纪伊斯兰教传入，建立苏丹国。１６世纪中叶，葡萄牙、西班牙、荷兰、英国等相继入侵这个国家。１８８８年，文莱沦为英国的保护国。１９４１年，文莱被日本占领，１９４６年英国恢复对文莱的控制。１９５９年，文莱与英国签订协定，规定国防、治安和外交事务由英国管理，其他事务由文莱苏丹政府管理。１９７１年，文莱与英国重新签约，规定除外交事务和部分国防事务外，文莱恢复行使其他所有内部自治权。１９７８年，文莱苏丹赴伦敦就主权独立问题同英国政府谈判，并缔结了友好合作条约。根据条约，英国于１９８４年１月１日放弃了其掌握的文莱外交和国防权力，文莱宣布完全独立。独立以后，苏丹政府大力推行“马来化、伊斯兰化和君主制”政策，巩固王室统治，重点扶持马来族等土著人的经济，在进行现代化建设的同时严格维护伊斯兰教义。 1991年与中国建交。

附：文莱历史年表（英文）
1841 Brunei ceded Sarawak to James Brooke
1846 Brunei ceded Labuan to Britain
1847 Brunei signed Trade Relations Treaty with Britain
1888 Brunei became a British-protected State
1906 British Resident appointed
1906-41 A new form of government emerged which included a State Council
1931 Exploration for oil commenced
1929 Oil was struck at Seria
1941-45 Japanese occupation during World War II
1950-67 Reign of Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien
1962 Armed rebellion put down
1967 Brunei issued its own currency
1967 The voluntary abdication of the 28th Sultan, His Highness Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien)
1968 Coronation of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
1970 The State capital, Brunei Town, was renamed Bandar Seri Begawan
1971 The 1959 Agreement was amended and brought up-to-date
1972 LNG plant began operation
1973 Deep Water Port opened in Muara
1973 Official opening of the world's largest LNG plant
1974 Brunei International Airport opened
1975 The launch of Royal Brunei Airlines
1979 Brunei and Britain signed the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation
1984 Brunei resumed full political sovereignty
1984 Brunei joined ASEAN, OIC and the United Nations
1984 Brunei celebrated its first National Day
1985 University of Brunei Darussalam was formed
1986 The demise of Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, His Majesty's father, the 28th Sultan.
1987 University of Brunei Darussalam opened
1988 Opening of the Malay Technology Museum
1989 The first convocation of University Brunei Darussalam
1990 The first Al-Hafiz of Brunei Darussalam
1991 The setting up of the Brunei Islamic Trust Fund (TAIB).
1992 Brunei joined Non Aligned Movements (NAM)
1992 Silver Jubilee of the reign of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
1998 Proclamation of His Royal Highess Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah as the Crown Prince
2004 The Royal Wedding between His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah