Srivijaya Empire History Golden Age And Downfall
TLDRThe Srivijaya Kingdom, based on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was a prominent maritime trade empire from the 7th to the 11th centuries. It controlled the Melaka Straits, facilitating the flow of high-value goods like spices and silk. Through transit taxes, it expanded its influence to regions including Borneo and Southeast Asia. The kingdom amassed wealth and land, becoming a hub of Buddhist knowledge. Despite repelling invasions, it eventually declined, and by the 14th century, the rise of Islam among its traders contributed to its disappearance from history.
Takeaways
- 🏺 The Srivijaya Kingdom, with its capital on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was one of the richest maritime trade empires in history.
- 🗺 Archaeological evidence suggests that Srivijaya may have started to form as early as the 200s and was a unified entity by 500.
- 🛣 The kingdom benefited from the Indian Ocean commerce for around 400 years, from the 7th to the 11th centuries, controlling the Malacca Straits.
- 🌍 High-value commodities such as spices, tortoise shell, silk, diamonds, camphor, and tropical woods were transported through the straits under Srivijaya's dominion.
- 📚 The first historical source to refer to Srivijaya is the diary of the Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing, who visited the kingdom in 670.
- 🏰 Srivijaya expanded its realm to include regions as far east as Borneo and as far north as present-day Thailand and Cambodia.
- 💰 The kingdom amassed wealth through transit taxes on the commodities that passed through the straits, enabling further territorial expansion.
- 📜 Old Malay inscriptions, some dating back to 682, mention the Srivijayan Kingdom, detailing its founding and early conquests.
- 🙏 By the 12th century, Srivijaya had become a significant hub of Buddhist knowledge, supporting a large community of Buddhist monks.
- ⚔️ Despite repelling invasions from the southern Indian Chola Empire, Srivijaya became more vulnerable and was eventually supplanted by the Singasari Kingdom by 1288.
- 📚 The conversion of the majority of Sumatran and Javanese people to Islam by the Indian Ocean traders, who were once the source of Srivijaya's wealth, contributed to its downfall.
Q & A
What is the Srivijaya Kingdom known for in history?
-The Srivijaya Kingdom is known for being one of the richest and most magnificent maritime trade empires in history, benefiting from thriving Indian Ocean commerce for at least 400 years from the 7th to the 11th centuries.
When did the Srivijaya Kingdom possibly begin to form?
-Archaeological evidence suggests that the Srivijaya Kingdom may have started to come together as early as the 200s and was likely a unified political entity by 500.
Where was the capital of the Srivijaya Kingdom located?
-The capital of the Srivijaya Kingdom was located close to what is currently Palembang, Indonesia.
What commodities were transported through the Melaka Straits under Srivijaya's dominion?
-A variety of high-end commodities such as spices, tortoise shell, silk, diamonds, camphor, and tropical woods were transported through the Melaka Straits under Srivijaya's dominion.
How did the rulers of Srivijaya expand their realm?
-The rulers of Srivijaya expanded their realm as far east as Borneo and as far north as what is now Thailand and Cambodia on the Southeast Asian peninsula.
What is the significance of the diary of Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing?
-The diary of Yijing, who spent six months in the kingdom in 670, is the first historical source to refer to Srivijaya, depicting a wealthy and well-run civilization.
What does the Kejukan Bukit inscription detail about the founding of Srivijaya?
-The Kejukan Bukit inscription details the founding of Srivijaya by Depanta Hyung Sri Jayanasa with the aid of 20,000 soldiers.
How did Srivijaya gain control over the Milica Straits and the Indian Ocean maritime silk routes?
-Srivijaya moved into Java and the Malay Peninsula in the 9th century, gaining control over the Milica Straits and the authority to impose tolls on their Indian Ocean maritime silk routes.
What was the role of Buddhism in the Srivijaya Kingdom?
-Buddhism played a significant role in the Srivijaya Kingdom, with a large community of Buddhist monks supported by Srivijaya's wealth and the capital developing into a hub of Buddhist knowledge and thinking.
What external factors contributed to the downfall of Srivijaya?
-The Srivijaya Kingdom faced assaults from the Southern Indian Chola Empire, which, after 20 years of conflict, left Srivijaya more vulnerable. Additionally, the conversion of the majority of Sumatran and Javanese to Islam by the Indian Ocean traders, who were once a source of riches for Srivijaya, contributed to its downfall.
How did Marco Polo's visit to Srivijaya reflect the kingdom's situation during his time?
-Marco Polo's visit to Srivijaya between 1291 and 1292 occurred during a turbulent time, and by the time of his visit, Srivijaya had already started to vanish from the map.
Outlines
🏰 Rise and Prosperity of the Srivijaya Maritime Empire
The Srivijaya kingdom, with its capital on Sumatra, was a major maritime trade empire from the 7th to the 11th centuries. It controlled the Melaka Straits, a crucial trade route between the Malay Peninsula and Indonesian islands, and amassed wealth through transit taxes on high-value goods like spices, silk, and diamonds. The kingdom expanded its influence to regions including Borneo, Thailand, and Cambodia, and its capital became a hub of Buddhist knowledge. The first historical mention of Srivijaya comes from the diary of Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing, who visited in 670. The kingdom's growth continued with the subjugation of regional kingdoms and control over strategic straits, leading to significant wealth and land acquisition. By the 12th century, Srivijaya's influence reached as far as the Philippines.
🛕 Cultural and Religious Significance of Srivijaya and Its Decline
Srivijaya supported a large Buddhist monk community and developed into a significant center of Buddhist thought, influencing smaller states like the Central Java's Salient Dremonics, who built the magnificent Borobudur. However, the kingdom also attracted the attention of pirates and foreign powers, leading to a series of assaults by the South Indian Chola Empire starting in 1012. Although Srivijaya managed to repel the invasion after 20 years, it became more vulnerable. By 1220, it was still considered the richest and most powerful state in Western Indonesia by Chinese scholar Qiu. However, by 1288, the Singasari Kingdom had taken control. The Italian adventurer Marco Polo visited during this turbulent period. Eventually, Srivijaya vanished from the map, and the majority of its people converted to Islam, largely due to the influence of the Indian Ocean traders who had been the source of its wealth.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Srivijaya
💡Maritime Trade Empires
💡Indian Ocean Commerce
💡Melaka Straits
💡Borneo
💡Buddhist Monk Ising
💡Old Malay Inscriptions
💡Java
💡Buddhist Knowledge and Thinking
💡Borobudur
💡Islam
Highlights
Srivijaya was one of the richest and most magnificent maritime trade empires in history.
Archaeological evidence suggests the kingdom may have started as early as the 200s and was a unified entity by 500.
The capital of Srivijaya was located near what is now Palembang, Indonesia.
Srivijaya benefited from Indian Ocean commerce for at least 400 years from the 7th to the 11th centuries.
The Malaka Straits, a crucial trade route, were under Srivijaya's control, facilitating the transport of high-end commodities.
Srivijaya's rulers expanded their realm to include regions as far east as Borneo and as far north as Thailand and Cambodia.
The kingdom amassed wealth through transit taxes on traded products.
The diary of Chinese Buddhist monk I-Sing provides the first historical reference to Srivijaya, depicting it as a wealthy and well-run civilization.
Old Malay inscriptions from the Palembang region mention Srivijaya, some dating back to 682.
The Kejukan Bukit inscription details the founding of Srivijaya by de Panta Hyung Sri Jayanasa with 20,000 soldiers.
King Jayanasa subjugated several regional kingdoms, including Malayu, which fell in 684.
Srivijaya gained control over the Milica Straits and the authority to impose tolls on their Indian Ocean maritime silk routes.
By the 12th century, Srivijaya's influence reached as far east as the Philippines.
A large community of Buddhist monks supported by Srivijaya's wealth developed a significant hub of Buddhist knowledge and thinking.
The Salient Dremonics of Central Java, who commissioned Borobudur, were a lesser state within Srivijaya's sphere of influence.
Srivijaya's wealth made it a target for pirates and governments, including the Southern Indian Chola Empire.
Despite repelling the Chola invasion after 20 years, Srivijaya became more vulnerable.
By 1220, Srivijaya was regarded as the richest and most powerful state in Western Indonesia.
The Singasari Kingdom seized control of Srivijaya by 1288.
Marco Polo visited Srivijaya during its turbulent time from 1291 to 1292.
By the year 1400, Srivijaya had vanished entirely, and most of Sumatra and Javanese converted to Islam.
Transcripts
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