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Link to
Indonesia-Pusaka
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History
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Birth of the Replublic of Indonesia
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The Japanese Occupation
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Return of Dutch Rule
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Temporary Britis Rule
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Dutch Colonialism
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The Poruguese era
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The Period of Islamic Kingdoms
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The Period of Hindu Kingdoms
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The Ancient Times
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THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION
After their attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Japanese forces moved southwards
to conquer several Southeast Asian countries. After Singapore had fallen, they invaded the Dutch East Indies and
the colonial army surrendered in March 1942.
Soekarno and Hatta were released from their detention. The Japanese began their propaganda campaign for what they
called "Great East Asia Coprosperity". But Indonesians soon realized that it was a camouflage for Japanese
imperialism in place of Dutch colonialism.
To further the cause of Indonesia’s independence, Soekarno and Hatta appeared to cooperate with the Japanese authorities.
In reality, however, Indonesian nationalist leaders went underground and masterminded insurrections in Blitar (East
Java), Tasikmalaya and Indramayu (West Java), and in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Under the pressure of the 4th Pacific war, where their supply lines were interrupted, and the increasing of Indonesian
insurrections, the Japanese ultimately gave into allow the red-and-white flag to fly as the Indonesian national
flag. Recognition of "Indonesia Raya" as the national anthem and Bahasa Indonesia as the national language
followed. Hence, the youth’s pledge of 1928 was fulfilled.
After persistent demands, the Japanese finally agreed to place the civil administration of the county into Indonesian
hands. This was a golden opportunity for nationalist leaders to prepare for the proclamation of lndonesia’s independence.
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NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS
When all these regional wars of independence failed, Indonesian nationalists began
thinking of a more-organized struggle against Dutch colonialism.
The move began with the founding-of Boedi Oetomo, literally meaning "noble conduct," on May 20, 1908.
This organization of Indonesian intellectuals was initially set up for educational purposes but later turned to
politics. It was inspired by Japan’s victory over Russia in 1901, which also gave impetus to nationalist movements
in many parts of Indonesia. The founder of Boedi Oetomo was Dr. Soetomo who was, at the time, a student of STOVIA,
an institution of train Indonesian medical officers. Dr. Soetomo was greafly influenced by Dr. Wahidin Soedirohoesodo
and supported by Gunawan and Suradji.
In 1912 Sarekat Dagang Islam, the Association of Moslem Merchants, was formed by Haji Samanhudi and others. Its
objective was at first to stimulate and promote the interest of Indonesian business in the Dutch East Indies. However,
in 1912 this organization of middle class businessmen turned into a political party and was renamed Sarekat Islam
under the leadership of H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto, Haji Agoes Salim and others.
In 1912 a progressive Moslem organization, Muhammadiyah, was established by K.H. Akhmad Dahlan in Yogyakarta for
the purpose of social and economic reforms.
In December of the some year Partai Indonesia was founded by Douwes Dekker, later named Setiabudi, with Dr. Tjipto
Mangunkusumo and Ki Hajar Dewantoro. The objective of the party was to strive for complete independence of Indonesia.
All three leaders of the party were exiled by the colonial government in 1913.
In 1914 communism was introduced in the East Indies by three Dutch nationals-Sneevliet, Baars and Brandsteder.
In May 1920 Sarikat Islam split into a right and a left wing, the later was to become the Partai Komunis Indonesia
(PKI, the Indonesian Communist Party) under the leadership of Semaun, Darsono, Alimin, Muso and others.
The Powerless People’s Council or Volksraad
In 1916 Sarikat Islam held its first convention in Bandung and resolved the demand self-government for Indonesia
in cooperation with the Dutch. When Sarikat Islam demanded a share in the legislative power in the colony, the
Dutch responded by setting up the Volksraad in 1918 which was virtually a powerless people’s council with an advisory
status.
Indonesian representatives on the council were indirectly elected through regional councils, but some of the other
members were appointed colonial officials.
The Volksraad later developed into a semi-legislative assembly. Among the members of this body were prominent nationalist
leaders like Dr. Tjipto Mangunkusumo, H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto, Abdul Muis, Dr. G.S.S.J. Ratulangi, M.H. Thamrin, Wiwoho,
Sutardjo Kartohadikusumo, Dr. Radjiman, and Soekardjo Wiryopronoto.
Under the pressure of the social unrest in the Netherlands at the end of World War 1, the Dutch promised to grant
self-government to Indonesians. This was known as the "November promise." It was a promise that never
met.
Besides the Volksraad, there was another body called Raad van Indie, "the Council of the Indies," whose
the members were appointed by the Government Achmad Djajadiningrat and Sujono were among the very few Indonesian
members of this council.
Restrictions of Civil Liberties
In 1923 deteriorating economic conditions and increasing labor strikes prompted the colonial government to put
severe restrictions on Indonesian civil liberties and make amendments to the colonial laws and penal codes. Freedom
of assembly, speech and expression in writing was restricted.
Further Growth of Indonesian Organizations
Despite the political restrictions, on July 3, 1922 Ki Hajar Dewantoro founded Taman Siswa, an organization to
promote national education.
In 1924 the Indonesian Students Association, "Perhimpunan Mahasiswa Indonesia," was formed by Drs. Mohammad
Hatta, Dr. Sukiman and others. This organization became a driving force of the nationalist movement to gain independence.
The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) staged revolts against the colonial government in November 1926 in West Java,
and in January 1927 in West Sumatra. After their suppression the Government exiled many non-communist nationalist
leaders to Tanah Merah, which the Dutch called "Boven Digul" in Irian Jaya. Dr. Tjipto Mangunkusumo was
exiled to Bandaneira.
In February 1927 Mohammad Hatta, Achmad Soebardjo and other members of lndonesia’s Movements attended the first
international convention of the "League Against Imperialism and Colonial Oppression" in Brussels, together
with Jawaharlal Nehru and many other prominent nationalist leaders from Asia and Africa.
In July 1927, Soekarno, Sartono and others formed the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), which adopted Bahasa
Indonesia as the official language. This party adopted a militant policy of noncooperation with the Government
as the result of a fundamental conflict of interest between Indonesian nationalism and Dutch colonialism.
In the same year, and all-Indonesia nationalist movement was organized by Indonesian youth and women to replace
earlier organizations, which had been based regionalism, such as "Young Java," "Young Sumatra"
and "Young Ambon."
On October 28, 1928, delegates to the second Indonesian Youth Congress in Jakarta pledge allegiance to "one
country, one nation and one language, Indonesia."
Meanwhile, the Technical Faculty was set up in Bandung in1920, and the Law Faculty was opened in Jakarta in 1924
to replace the former Law School. The Medical Faculty was opened in Jakarta in 1927 to replace the old Medical
School. Except for the Technical Faculty in Bandung, all the faculties in Jakarta were merged in the University
of Indonesia in 1964 in independent Indonesia.
Concerned about the growing national awareness of freedom, the colonial authorities arrested the PNI leader, Soekarno,
in December 1929. This touched off widespread protests by Indonesians.
In 1930 the world was in the grip of an economic and monetary crisis. The severe impact of the crisis was felt
in the Indies, a raw material producing country. The colonial government responded with a strict balance budget
policy that aggravated economic and social conditions.
Two other leaders of the PNI, Gatot Mangkupradja and Maskun Supriadinata, were arrested and tried in court on charges
of plotting against the Government. Soekarno was released in September 1931 but exiled again in August 1933. He
remained in Dutch custody until the Japanese invasion in 1942.
In January 1931, Dr. Soetomo founded Persatuan Bangsa Indonesia, the Indonesian Unity Party. Its objective was
to improve the social status of the Indonesian people.
In April of the same year, PNI was abandoned. A new party was formed by Sartono, LLM and named Partai Indonesia,
the Indonesian Party. Its basis was nationansm, its line was independence.
Also in 1931, Sutan Syahrir formed Pendidikan Nasional Indonesia. Known as the new PNI, it envisaged national education.
Mohammad Hatta joined this organization.
In 1933 a mutiny broke out on the Dutch warship "De Zeven Provincien" for which Indonesian nationalists
were held responsible. The following year Sutan Syahrir and Mohammad Hatta and other nationalist leaders were arrested
and banished until1942.
In 1935, Soetomo merged Persatuan Bangsa Indonesia and Boedi Oetomo to form Partai Indonesia Raya (Parindra). Its
fundamental goal was the independence of Great Indonesia.
The Indonesian Petition
In July 1936, Sutardio submitted to the "Volksraad" a petition calling for greater autonomy for Indonesia.
This petition was flatly rejected by the Dutch-dominated Council.
In 1937 Dr. A.K. Gani started the Indonesian People’s Movement, Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia, which was based on the
principles of nationalism, social independence and self-reliance.
In 1939 the All Indonesian Political Federation, GAPI, called for the establishment of a full-fledged Indonesian
parliament. This demand was rejected by the Government in Holland in 1940.
GAPI also demanded an Indonesian military service for the purpose of defending the country in times of war. Again,
this was turned down, notwithstanding the impending outbreak of World War II. At the time, there were widespread
movements for fundamental and progressive reforms in the colonies and dependencies in Asia
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RETURN OF DUTCH RULE
Soon the Dutch intensified their colonial rule. But this only sparked widespread
revolts to seize freedom. These revolts, however, were suppressed one after the other.
To mention only a few: Thomas Matulessy, alias Pattimura, staged a revolt against the Dutch in the Moluccas (1816-1818).
Prince Diponegoro of Mataram led the Java War from 1825 until 1830. Again, it was fierce struggle for freedom.
Tuanku Imam Bonjol led the Padri War in West Sumatra, while Teuku Umar headed the Aceh War in North Sumatra (1
873-1903). King Sisingamangaraja of the Bataks revolved against the Dutch in 1907. An attempt by the Dutch troops
to occupy Bali in 1908 was repelled by King Udayana. Revolts were also staged in Goa, South Sulawesi, and in South
Kalimantan.
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BRITISH TEMPORARY RULE
In 1814 the British caome to Indonesia and built Fort York in Bengkulu on the west
coast of Sumatra. It was later renamed Fort Marlborough.
During the Napoleonic wars in Europe when Holland was occupied by France, Indonesia fell under the rule of the
British East India Company (1811-1816). Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles was appointed Lieutenant Governor General of
Java and dependencies. He was subordinated to the Governor General in Bengal, India.
Raffles introduced partial self-government and abolished the slave trade. In those days slaves were captured and
traded by foreigners.
He also introduced the land-tenure system, replacing the hated Dutch forced-agricultural system, whereby crops
were grown and surrendered to the Government.
Borobudur and other temples were restored and research conducted. Raffles wrote his famous book, "The History
of Java," in which he described Java’s high civilization and culture.
During the British stay in Sumatra (1814-1825), William Marsden wrote a similar book on the history of Sumatra,
which was published in 1889.
After the fall of Napoleon, and the end of the French occupation of Holland the British and Dutch signed a convention
in London on August 13, 1814, in which it was agreed that Dutch colonial possessions dating from 1803 onwards should
be returned to the Dutch Administration in Batavia. Thus, the Indonesian archipelago was recovered from the British
in 1815.
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THE BEGINNING OF DUTCH COLONIALISM
Meanwhile, the Dutch had started their quest for Indonesia spices to sell on the
European market at big profit. For the purpose of more efficient and better organized merchant trade they established
the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602. To protect the merchants fleet from frequent pirate attacks on the
high seas, Dutch warships were ordered to accompany it.
After the nationalization of the VOC in 1799, the Dutch Government had a firm grip on the vital territories of
the country. People in those territories were forced to surrender their agricultural produce to the Dutch merchants.
It was the beginning of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia. Sunda Kelapa was renamed Batavia.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram converted to Islam and was ruled by the Muslim, Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo.
He developed the political power of the state and was a keen patron of the arts and culture. In 1633 he introduced
the Islamic Javanese calendar.
Sultan Agung was a fierce enemy of the Dutch. In 1629 he sent his troops to attack Batavia, but they were repulsed
by the troops of Governor General Jan Pieterszoon Coen.
After the seizure of Ambon in the Moluccas in 1605 and Banda Island in 1623, the Dutch secured the trade monopoly
of the spice islands. A policy of ruthless exploitation by "divide and rule" tactics was carried out.
In this way indigenous inter-island trade, like that between Makassar, Aceh, Mataram and Banten, as well as overseas
trade, was gradually paralyzed. Indonesia was reduced to an agricultural country to supply European markets. At
the some time, the Dutch adopted a so-called open- door policy toward the Chinese in order that they could serve
as middlemen in their trade with Indonesia.
War against the Dutch
Sultan Hasanuddin of Goa waged a war against the Dutch in 1666. But was defeated and Goa became a vassal state
of the VOC under the treaty of Bunggaya of 1667.
Prince Trunojoyo of Madura also fought the Dutch. He was defeated and killed in 1680.
To reinforce their spice monopoly in the Moluccas, the Dutch undertook their notorious Hongi expeditions, whereby
they burned down the clove gardens of the people in an effort to eliminate overproduction, which brought down the
prices of cloves on the European markets. In these outrageous expeditions countless atrocities were commifted against
people who defended their crops.
In 1740 the Dutch suppressed a rebellion in Jakarta that was sparked by dissatisfied Chinese, who were later joined
by Indonesians. Ten thousand Chinese were massacred.
The Kingdom of Mataram began to see its downfall after it was divided by the VOC into the Principalities of Yogyakarta
and Surakarta. However, mismanagement and corruption forced the VOC into bankruptcy and on December 31, 1799, all
its territories in Indonesia were taken over by the Dutch Administration in Batavia.
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THE PORTUGUESE IN INDONESIA
In their search for spices, the Portuguese arrived in Indonesia in 1511, after their
conquest of the Islamic kingdom of Malacca on the Malay Peninsula. They were followed by the Spaniards. Both began
to propagate Christianity and were most successful in Maluku, also known as the Moluccas.
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THE PERIOD OF ISLAMIC KINGDOMS
Moslem merchants from Gujarat and Persia began visiting Indonesia in the 13th Century
and established trade links between this country and India and Persia. Along with trade, they propagated Islam
among the Indonesians people, particularly along the coastal areas of Java, like Demak. At a later stage they even
influenced and converted Hindu kings to Islam, the first being the Sultan of Demak. This Moslem Sultan later spread
Islam westwards to Cirebon and Banten, and eastward along the northern coast of Java to the kingdom of Gresik.
In the end, he brought the downfall of the powerful kingdom of Majapahit (1293-1520).
After the fall of Majapahit, Islam spread further east to where the sultanates of Bone and Goa in Sulawesi were
established. Also under the influence of Islam, were the sultanates of Ternate and Tidore in the Maluku.
North of Java, the religion spread to Banjarmasin in Borneo and further west to Sumatra, where Palembang, Minangkabau
(West Sumatra), Pasai and Periak were converted.
Meanwhile, descendants of the Majapahit aristocracy, religious scholars and Hindu Ksatriyas retreated through the
East Java peninsula of Blambangan to the island of Bali and Lombok. In a later period, however, the eastern part
of Lombok was converted to Islam, which entered the island from the southern Sulawesi city of Makassar, now named
Ujungpandang.
The capital of the West Java Kingdom of Pajajaran was Sunda Kelapa (1300 AD). It was located in the present capital
city of Indonesia, Jakarta. In 1527 Sunda Kelapa was conquered by Falatehan, and Islamic troop commander of the
sultanate of Demak. After his conquest the city was renamed Jaya Karta, meaning "the great city," this
was the origin of the present name, Jakarta. Falatehan also defeated the Portuguese, who had also tried to seize
the city.
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THE PERIOD OF HINDU KINGDOMS
Many well-organized kingdoms with a high degree of civilization were ruled by indigenous kings who had adopted
the Hindu or Buddhist religion. This explains why this period in history is called the Period of Hindu Kingdoms.
It lasted from ancient times to the 16th Century AD. Because the culture and civilization, which emanated from
the Hindu and Buddhist religions, were syncretized with the local cultural elements, the period was also referred
to as the Hindu-Indonesian period.
Indian culture and customs were introduced, such as the system of government in a monarchy, the ancestry system,
the organization of military troops, literature, music and dances, architecture, religious practices and rituals,
and even the division of laborers into castes or varnas. The Hindu literary works known as Vedas and the "Mahabharata"
and "Ramayana" epics were also introduced through the wayang, or shadow-play performance, which is still
very popular in many parts of present day Indonesia.
The first Indian Buddhists arrived in Indonesia between the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. They brought with them Buddhism
in its two sects, Hinayana and Mahayana. The latter became more advanced in the 8th Century AD.
With the spread of Buddhism to China many Chinese pilgrims sailed to India through the strait of Malacca. On their
way, some stopped and temporarily stayed in Indonesia to learn more about Buddhism. In 144 AD a Chinese Buddhist
saint, Fa Hsien, was caught in a storm and landed in Java-Dwipa, or Java island, where he stayed for five months.
The northern part of the island was then ruled by an Indonesian Hindu King named Kudungga. Kutai, on the island
of Borneo, was successively ruled by the Hindu kings Devawarman, Aswawarman and Mulawarman.
When the Greek explorer and geographer, Ptolemy of Alexandria, wrote on Indonesia, he named either the island of
Java or Sumatra "abadiou". His chronicles described Java as a country with a good system of government
and advanced agriculture, navigation and astronomy. There was even mention of the "batik" printing process
of cloth that the people already knew. They also made metalware, used the metric system and printed coins.
Chinese chronicles of 132 AD described the existence of diplomatic regions between Java-Dwipa and China.
Ink and paper had already been in use in China since the 2nd Century AD. Around 502 AD Chinese annals mentioned
the existence of the Buddhist Kingdom, Kanto Lim in South Sumatra, presumably in the neighborhood of present-day
Palembang. It was ruled by king Gautama Subhadra, and later by his son Pyrawarman of Vinyawarman who established
diplomatic relations with China. Because of a spelling or pronunciation difficulty, what the Chinese called "Kanto
Li" was probably Crivijaya, a mighty Buddhist kingdom. On his way to India, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim,
I Tsing, visited Crivijaya in 671 AD to study the Sanskrit language. He returned 18 years later, in 689 AD Crivijaya
was then the center of Buddhist learning and had many well-known philosophy scholars like Sakyakirti, Dharmapala
and Vajabudhi.
The kingdom had diplomatic relations with the south Indian kingdom of Nalanda. The Crivijaya mission built a school
on its premises where Indians could learn the art of molding bronze statues and broaden their knowledge of the
Buddhist philosophy. With the spread of Buddhism, Crivijaya’s influence reached out to many other parts of the
archipelago.
Another known Buddhist kingdom was Cailendra in Central Java. It was ruled by the kings of Cailendra Dynasty. During
their rule (750-850 AD) the famous Buddhist temple, Borobudur, was built. In 772 AD other Buddhist temple were
also build. They include the Mendut, Kalasan and Pawon temples. All of these temples are now preserved as tourist
objects near the city of Yogyakarta. The Cailendra kingdom was also known for its commercial and naval power, and
its flourishing arts and culture. A guide to team singing, known as the Chandra Cha-ana, was first written in 778
AD.
One of the Pallawa language-stone inscriptions of 732 AD mentioned the name of King Sanjaya, who was later identified
as the king of Mataram, a kingdom that replaced Cailendra in Central Java.
The Prambanan temple, which was dedicated to Lord Civa, was started in 856 AD and completed in 900 AD by King Daksa.
Earlier Civa temples were built in 675 AD on the Dieng mountain range, southwest of Medang Kamolan, the capital
of the Mataram Kingdom.
In West Java were the kingdoms of Galuh, Kanoman, Kuningan and Pajajaran. The latter was founded by King Purana
with Pakuan as its capital. It replaced the kingdom of Galuh. The kingdoms of Taruma Negara, Kawali and Parahyangan
Sunda came later.
At the end of the 13th Century, the Crivijaya Empire began to fall as a result of severance by its vassal states
and frequent attacks by the south Indian kingdom of Chola and by the Majapahit Kingdom. In the end, Crivijaya was
completely conquered by Majapahit with the support of King Aditiawarman of the Melayu kingdom.
Earlier, Majapahit had conquered the kingdom of Jambi in East Sumatra and, by moving its expansion along the rivers,
it finally annexed the kingdom of Pagar Ruyung in West Sumatra. Thus, all of Sumatra came under Majapahit’s rule.
Meanwhile, for unknown reasons, the mighty kingdoms of Central Java disappeared from historic records and new prosperous
kingdom emerged in East Java. King Balitung, who ruled between 820 and 832 AD, succeeded in uniting the Central
and East Java kingdoms. The disappearance of records was presumably caused by a natural disaster or an epidemic.
At the end of the 10th Century (911-1007 AD) the powerful kingdom of Singasari emerged in East Java under King
Dharmawangsa. He codified laws and translated into Javanese the "Mahabharata" epic and its basic philosophy,
as exposed in the Bhisma Parva scripture. He also ordered the 12 translations of the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavat
Gita.
Meanwhile, the island of Bali was ruled by King Airlangga, known as a wise and strong ruler. He had water-works
built along the Brantas River that are still in use today. Before his death in 1409 AD he divided his kingdom into
the kingdoms of Janggala and Daha or Kediri. These were to be ruled by his two sons.
Under Airlangga’s rule literary works flourished. The Panji novels written during this period are still popular
today. They are even taught in the art faculties of the universities in Thailand, Kampuchea and Malaysia.
King Jayabaya of Kediri 1135-1157 wrote a book in which he foretold the downfall of Indonesia. Subsequently, so
he wrote, the country would be ruled by a white race, to be followed by a yellow race. His prediction turned out
to be Dutch colonial rule and the Japanese occupation of the country during World War. However, Jayabaya also predicted
that Indonesia would ultimately regain her independence. During the golden period of the Kediri Kingdom many other
literary works were produced, including the Javanese version of the Mahabharata by Mpu (saint) Sedah and his brother
Mpu Panuluh. This work was published in 1157.
The kingdoms of East Java were later succeeded by the Majapahit Kingdom, first ruled by Prince Wiiaya who was also
known as King Kartarajasa.
The Moghul emperor, Kubilai Khan attempted to invade Majapahit. His troops, however, were defeated and driven back
to their ships. As Majapahit grew to become a powerful empire, it conquered the kingdom of Crivijaya in South Sumatra.
As mentioned earlier, this kingdom has once been attacked by the Indian kingdom of Chola.
Under King Hayam Wuruk the Majapahit Empire became the most powerful kingdom in the history of Indonesia. It had
dependencies in territories beyond the borders of the present archipelago, such as Champa in North Vietnam, Kampuchea
and the Philippines (1331-1364). King Hayam Wuruk, with his able premier Gajah Mada, succeeded in gradually uniting
the whole archipelago under the name of Dwipantara.
During this golden period of Majapahit many literary works were produced. Among them was "Negara Kertagama,"
by the famous author Prapancha (1335-1380). Parts of the book described the diplomatic and economic ties between
Majapahit and numerous Southeast Asian countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Tonkin, Annam, Kampuchea and even
India and China. Other works in Kawi, the old Javanese language, were "Pararaton," "Arjuna Wiwaha,"
"Ramayana," and "Sarasa Muschaya." These works were later translated into modern European languages
for educational purposes.
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ANCIENT TIMES
Indonesia did not exist as yet during the Palaeocene period (70 million years BC), the Eocene period (30 million
years BC), the Oligacene period (25 million years BC) and the Miocene period (12 million years BC). It is believed
that Indonesia must have existed during the Pleitocene period (4 million years BC) when it was linked with the
present Asian mainland. It was during this period that the Homonids made their first appearance and Java Man inhabited
the part of the world now called Indonesia. Java Man, named Pithecanthropus Erectus by Eugence Dubois who found
the fossils on the island of Java, must have been the first inhabitant of Indonesia.
When the sea level rose as the result of the melting ice north of Europe and the American continent, many islands
emerged, including the Indonesian archipelago. It was also during this period (3000-500 BC) that Indonesia was
inhabited by Sub Mongoloid migrants from Asia who later inter-married with the indigenous people. Later still (1000
BC) inter-marriage occured with Indo-Arians migrants from the south Asian sub-continent of India.
The first indian migrants came primarily from Gujarat in Southeast India during the first Christian era.
The Caka period in Indonesia witnessed the introduction of the Sanskrit language and the Pallawa script by the
Indian Prince Aji Caka (78 AD). The Devanagari script of the sanskrit language was also used, as shown in ancient
stone and copper inscriptions (paracasthies) which have been unearthed. The language and script were adopted and
called the Kawi language and included words and phrases derived from Javanese.
Early trade relations were established between South India and Indonesia. Sumatra was then named Swarna Dwipa of
"the island of gold, " Java was called Java Dwipa or "the Rice island," and a Hindu kingdom
of Crivijaya in Sumatra and Nalanda in South India were not comfirmed to religious and cultural exchanges. They
later developed diplomatic relations, and even covered a wide range of trade.
The influx of Indian settlers continued during the period from the first to the seventh century AD. Peacefully
and gradually the Hindu religion spread throughout the archipelago. It was adopted by all layers of the people
of Java, but limited to the upper classes on the other islands |
| Source: www.deplu.go.id Update 11/23/2002 |
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