Srivijayan culture? How do we know this kingdom existed?
Considered one of the most successful and powerful maritime and trading kingdoms of ancient times, a kingdom called Srivijaya arose from the grounds of Sumatra. There are very few records of this particular kingdom, but a number of archaeological evidence show that the kingdom most likely began as far back as 200 CE, and was a fully organized society by the 6th century.
The capital city was located in what we now call the city of Palembang . Between the 7th and 11th century, Srivijaya benefited greatly from the trade in the Indian Ocean. The Malacca Strait (between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian islands) was controlled entirely by the Srivijaya empire.
Many luxury items like spices, shells of tortoises, jewels, silk, tropical wood, and camphor passed through the Malacca Strait. By putting taxes on the goods that were brought for trade, the King of Srivijaya gained great wealth. Using the wealth he gained from these taxes, he expanded the territory up north to what is today known as Thailand and Cambodia, and Borneo as well.
Did you know???
The large numbers of Chinese Indonesians in Indonesia today is a result of Chinese communities built by Chinese traders to Srivijaya in order to have a place to rest. More and more Chinese people started immigrating from China and eventually the Chinese became a large minority group in Indonesia. Interestingly, the Chinese dominated Indonesian markets when they first came, and even now they are the biggest traders.
The capital city was located in what we now call the city of Palembang . Between the 7th and 11th century, Srivijaya benefited greatly from the trade in the Indian Ocean. The Malacca Strait (between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian islands) was controlled entirely by the Srivijaya empire.
Many luxury items like spices, shells of tortoises, jewels, silk, tropical wood, and camphor passed through the Malacca Strait. By putting taxes on the goods that were brought for trade, the King of Srivijaya gained great wealth. Using the wealth he gained from these taxes, he expanded the territory up north to what is today known as Thailand and Cambodia, and Borneo as well.
Did you know???
The large numbers of Chinese Indonesians in Indonesia today is a result of Chinese communities built by Chinese traders to Srivijaya in order to have a place to rest. More and more Chinese people started immigrating from China and eventually the Chinese became a large minority group in Indonesia. Interestingly, the Chinese dominated Indonesian markets when they first came, and even now they are the biggest traders.
A memoir by a Buddhist monk named I-Tsing, was the first historical resource that mentioned the Kingdom, it was from his 6 month visit to the kingdom in 671 CE. He describes what he presumed had existed a long time kingdom as a well-organized society that was also rich. Other mentions of the kingdom can also be found in Old Malay inscriptions that are dated back to 682 (found in the Palembang area). Other local Melayu Kingdoms that had fallen in 684 were taken over by King Jayanasa making them part of the Srivijaya Empire.
Glossary
Camphor: A white crystal-like substance used in certain kinds of oil.
Camphor: A white crystal-like substance used in certain kinds of oil.