Ancient Civilizations in Southeast Asia

Ancient Civilizations in Insular Southeast Asia

• Islands were connected by vast seas, not roads. Boats were gateways to distant lands, cultures, and treasures.
• Srivijaya and Majapahit, powerful empires, were established in present-day Indonesia. Majapahit was the largest archipelago in the world.
• Malacca was established in present-day Malaysia.

The Srivijaya in the 7th Century

• The word Srivijaya comes from Sanskrit, meaning "Great Victory" or "Great Conquest".
• The Chinese called Srivijaya Jinzhou, which means "Golden District" or "Golden Beach" due to the kingdom's gold wealth.
• The Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and West Java were part of Srivijaya during its reign.

The Madjapahit in the 13th Century

• The Madjapahit Empire was founded by the Kediri.
• The Kediri expanded their territories in 1293, conquering areas previously controlled by Srivijaya and other smaller kingdoms.
• Conquered territories paid tribute to the Madjapahit Empire.

The Malacca in the 15th Century

• Malacca became a trade center in the 15th century.
• Trade products from Southeast Asia and other regions (nutmeg, pepper, cloves, camphor, gold, sandalwood from Timor, various cloth types like Bengal cloth and Cambay cloth, opium, wool, hats, glass beads, metal tools, silk, satin, damask, brocade, porcelain, pearls, and silver) brought to the port of Malacca.
• Malacca controls trade between Southeast Asia, India, China, Arabia, and Europe.
• Islam spread strongly throughout the Malay Peninsula, islands of Indonesia, and even the southern part of the Philippines.

The Sailendras

• Sailendras were prominent rulers in central Java during the height of their power.
• The word Sailendras comes from Sanskrit meaning "King of the Mountains," referring to the origin of cloves and pepper in the Moluccas and nutmeg in the Banda Islands.
• The Kedri people are close to the origin in the Banda Islands.
• The port of Kediri weakened around the middle of the 13th century after a Mongol attack, destroying the Javanese government.

Relationship of the Philippines with Ancient Civilizations in Southeast Asia

• Philippines has ties to ancient civilizations, empires, or kingdoms in Southeast Asia. This relationship was established mainly through trade.

Pagnganganga

• Pagnganganga is an old Austronesian tradition, typically used for socializing, especially when guests are present.
• If the owner of a house does not engage in the tradition of paying respect to a visitor, it's considered an insult.

Relationship of Civilizations in Southeast Asia with Chinese and Indian Civilizations

• China and India are countries where earliest civilizations emerged (Indus and Shang, respectively).
• These civilizations interacted with Southeast Asian civilizations primarily through architecture, infrastructure, religion, and literature.
• India refers to Southeast Asia as "suvarnabhumi," meaning "land of gold." The spread of Hinduism was key to their relations.
• Trade was a two-way process; Southeast Asian traders also traveled to India.
• The decline in Buddhism in 12th century India and the fall of Hindu power by the arrival of the Muslims caused a decline in India's influence.
• Similar to India, China's relationship was also based on trade and commerce.
• During the Shang period, China believed it was the center of the world ("middle kingdom"). They traded various items (ivory, pearls, bird feathers) during the Zhou dynasty.
• Trade flourished between the 2nd and 15th centuries (connecting China, India, Arabia, Africa, and Europe).

Formative Assessment: Events Order

• a. Beginning of the strengthening of Srivijaya's naval forces in Southeast Asia.
• b. Expansion of the territories of the Kediris.
• d. The port in Malacca became a center of trade.
• e. Mongol invasion of Majapahit.
• c. Increased piracy in Malacca, Singapore, Madura, Penang and Aceh.

How did ancient civilizations in Insular Southeast Asia establish relationships?

• Relationships were established primarily through trade.

Explore the rich history of ancient civilizations in insular Southeast Asia, focusing on the powerful empires of Srivijaya and Majapahit. Discover how these empires influenced trade, culture, and politics in the region. This quiz covers key facts about their territories, ventures, and significance in maritime history.