Why did this empire fail? Srivijaya forever in the past.
Due to the increase of popularity in the Srivijaya Empire, foreign powers and pirates became interested in the kingdom. In the span of 20 years, many of the key ports of Srivijaya were attacked by an Empire from India called the Chola Empire.
As late as 1225, Chinese author Chou Ju-kua described Srivijaya as the richest and strongest state in western Indonesia, with 15 colonies or tributary states under its control. The kingdom was able to deal with the attacks, but became weak due to its efforts. Then the Singhasari Kingdom in 1288 finally conquered the Srivijaya Kingdom.
Marco Polo stopped by the empire during his travels in 1291-1292 CE.
In the year 1400, the Kingdom was completely gone despite the many efforts made by fugitive princes to revive the kingdom and bring it back. A factor that decreased the chances of the kingdom to return was the great conversion of Sumatran and Javanese people to Islam that was caused by the Traders of the Indian ocean that ironically, was their source of wealth.
Did you know???
Indonesia is home to 12.7% of the world’s Muslim population? That also makes Indonesia the world’s largest Muslim country, with over 87% of the country’s population identifying themselves as Muslim. This is because the Chola spread Islam after defeating Srivijaya.
As late as 1225, Chinese author Chou Ju-kua described Srivijaya as the richest and strongest state in western Indonesia, with 15 colonies or tributary states under its control. The kingdom was able to deal with the attacks, but became weak due to its efforts. Then the Singhasari Kingdom in 1288 finally conquered the Srivijaya Kingdom.
Marco Polo stopped by the empire during his travels in 1291-1292 CE.
In the year 1400, the Kingdom was completely gone despite the many efforts made by fugitive princes to revive the kingdom and bring it back. A factor that decreased the chances of the kingdom to return was the great conversion of Sumatran and Javanese people to Islam that was caused by the Traders of the Indian ocean that ironically, was their source of wealth.
Did you know???
Indonesia is home to 12.7% of the world’s Muslim population? That also makes Indonesia the world’s largest Muslim country, with over 87% of the country’s population identifying themselves as Muslim. This is because the Chola spread Islam after defeating Srivijaya.
Glossary
Tributary State: A tributary state is a state that idolizes another, stronger state. The tributary state would regularly send gifts to the stronger state.
Sinhasari Kingdom: A kingdom located in east Java in the 13th century.
Tributary State: A tributary state is a state that idolizes another, stronger state. The tributary state would regularly send gifts to the stronger state.
Sinhasari Kingdom: A kingdom located in east Java in the 13th century.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Srivijaya Empire (historical Kingdom, Indonesia)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/562024/Srivijaya-empire>.