Prehistory

The Philippines was inhabited by prehistoric animals from 1.7 million to 500,000 years ago. Fossil remains of stegodonts and rhinoceros were recovered in several places including areas where San Lorenzo Village and Fort Bonifacio are now located.

 Early history

Namayan included the present-day parts of the National Capital Region called San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Paco, and Pandacan. Namayan was older than both Tondo, which is mentioned in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, and Maynila. Its last known ruler was Lakan Tagkan.

 American occupation

By 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States after the former's defeat in the Spanish-American War. In 1901, the Americans declared the whole land south of Pasig River, including the town of San Pedro de Macati, down to Alabang a U.S. Military Reservation; thus establishing Fort McKinley which now widely known as the Fort Bonifacio. That same year, the whole town, with a population of 25,000, was incorporated from Manila to the province of Rizal. In February 28, 1914, the The Philippine Legislature passed Act 2390, shortening the name San Pedro de Macati to simply Makati. In 1930s, the first airport in Luzon, Nielsen Field, opened in what is now the Ayala Triangle.

 Post-World War II

 Urbanization

After the World War II, the town grew rapidly, and the real estate property boomed. The first centrally planned communities were established in the 1950s with the help and support of the Ayala family, and since the 1970s, Makati has been the undisputed financial and commercial capital, the once worthless swampland becoming prime real property. Its role as the nation's financial capital could be traced to these years.

In 1975, Makati was separated from Rizal province along with Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Taguig, Pasay City, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa, to become part of the National Capital Region as a component town.

In 1980s, Makati has also figured prominently in the political history of the Filipino. The community was one of the cradles of the revolt against Spanish colonial rule, and following the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983, the epicenter of the protest movement against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, which known historically as the People Power Revolution. After the revolution and the downfall of the Marcos��� 20-year presidential regime, Corazon C. Aquino, the wife of the deceased senator Aquino, became the new and first female president of the Republic of the Philippines and probably Asia. After the death of Mayor Nemesio Yabut during the People Power Revolution, she appointed Jejomar Binay as the acting mayor of the town of Makati and was elected as mayor in 1987.

 Cityhood

By January 2, 1995, Makati became an independent city by virtue of Republic Act 7854 and in the June 30, 1998, The Lone District of Makati City was separated and divided into 2 districts. Lone district Rep. Joker Arroyo became the representative of the first district, while Senator Agapito Aquino was elected representative of second district. Elenita Binay served for only three years (one term) as the first and only female city mayor so far.

By the start of the 21st century, the city was once again highlighted in media due to the political revolt against the government of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In July 27, 2003, the so-called Oakwood Mutiny was staged at the Oakwood Hotel by the Magdalo soldiers.

An accidental methane gas explosion ripped apart a section of the Glorietta Mall occurred on October 19, 2007 at 1:30 PM, killing 11 people.

In a continuation of events stemming from the Oakwood Mutiny, 25 Magdalo officers led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim overtook the Manila Peninsula Hotel on November 29, 2007 in what has been referred to as the Manila Pen Siege.