Ancient History





Ancient Kingdoms

Tarumanagara (358 - 669)
  • Sudanese kingdom
  • Attacked and defeated by Srivijaya around 650
  • Religions : Animism and Buddhism






Borobudur BuddhistTemple
Srivijaya (7th – 13th Centuries)
•       Capital: Palembang, Jambi, Chaiya
•       Languages: Old Malay, Sanskrit
•       Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism
•       Government: Monarchy
•       Currency: Native gold coins and silver
•       Coastal trading centre
•       Building of the Buddhist famous temple Borobudur
•       Important centre for Buddhist exapansion 8-13th Century
•       Stronghold of Vajrayana  Budhhism à attracted many Buddhist 
pilgrims and scholars all over Asia.





Sailendra (8th – 9th Centuries)
•       Co-existed with Medang Kingdom
•       Based in Central Java
•       Middle of 9th Century: Collapse of Sailendra kingdom
à Peaceful relationship btwn Sailendra and Medang deteriorates
Conflicting historian theories about Sailendra : ruling family / dynasty of Medang itself.

Padrao of Sunda Kalapa
Commemorating the
Sunda - Portugese treaty
Sunda Kingdom (669 – 1579)
•       Capital: Pukuan Pajajaruan, Kalawi
•       Languages: Sanskrit, Sudanese
•       Religion: Sunda Wiwitan, Hinduism, Buddhism
•       Government: Monarchy
•       Currency: Native gold and silver coins
•       King Tarusbawa from Sunda Sambawa
•       Tarumanagara Kingdom declining due to invasions of Srivijaya
•       Renamed Tarumanagara Kingdom as Sunda Kingdom
•       Economy relied highly on agriculture (rice cultivation)
•       Main producer of high quality pepper
•       Forceful invasion of the army of Paletehan (Fadillah Khan) into Sunda Kalapa (1487 – 1570)
•       Commander of Sunda Kingdom, royal minster and the people who worked at the habor all lost their lives.
•       Portuguese were no longer welcomed in Sunda Kalapa.

Medang Kingdom (752 – 1045)
•       Hindu- Buddhist Javanese Kingdom
•       Capital: Central Java, East java
Kakawin
•       Languages: Old Javanese, Sanskrit
•       Religion: Kejawen, Hinduism, Animism, Buddhism
•       Government: monarchy
•       Currency: Masa and Tahil (local gold and silver coins)
•       Based in Central Java
•       Between 8th – 10th century CE
•       By 850 dominant power of Java
•       Ruled by Sanjaya dynasty ; First king of Medang : King Sanjaya
•       Serious rival to Srivijaya kingdom
•       During mid 9th – 10th century: witnessed blossoming of literature, culture and art.
•       Translation of Hindu-Buddhist texts
•       Transmission and adaptation of Hindu-Buddhist ideas
•       Kakawin Ramayana written (old Javanese rendering)

Kediri (1045 – 1221)
Srikandi Mask, Kediri Style
•       Indianized Kingdom (Hinduism)
•       Capital : Daha (or Kadiri)
•       Religion: Animism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Kejawen
•       Languages: Old Javanese, Sanskrit
•       Government: Monarchy
•       Currency: Native gold and silver coins
•       Main occupations of people:
à Rice cultivation
à Animal farming (cattle, boar, poultry)
à Spice trade
   ·         Later the Kediri economy became more dependent on the spice trade
   ·         Result of Kediri’s development of navy, which allowed the Kediri to control the spice trade routes to eastern islands.

Singhasari (1222 – 1292)
Monument in remembrance of the
last Singhasari King,
King Kertanegara
•       Capital: Tumapel
•       Languages: Old Javanese, Sanskrit
•       Religion: Kajawen, Hinduism, Animism, Buddhism
•       Government: Monarchy
•       Currency: Native gold coins and silver
•       King Kertanegara claims weak remains of Majapahit
•       Majapahit becomes part of Singhasari
•       Pamalayu Expedition led by Admiral Mahesa Anabrang, one of intentions to secure the Malayan strait from sea pirates and Mongolian invasion
•       Expanded Singhasari territory, controlling other kingdoms, sending troops and expeditions to 
Kalimantan and Malaku, making an alliance with the King of Champa (Vietnam)

Collapse
•       King Kertanegara does not submit to Mongolian demands for submission and sends Mongol envoy back disfigured.
•       King Kertanegara assassinated in a surprise attack during a Hindu holy festival by Jayakatwang.
•       Jayakatwang ursurps the throne
•       Raden Wijaya, one of the King’s son-in-laws flees
•       When Mongol army comes, tricks them into destroying Jayakatwang 
•       Raden Wijaya then attacks the exhausted Mongolian army
•       Mongolians retreat, Raden Wijaya starts the Majapahit empire.

Golden celestial nymph
of the Majapahit era
Majapahit (1293 – 1500)
•       Capital: Majapahit
•       Languages: Old Javanese (main) , Sanskrit (religious)
•       Religion: Kejawan, Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism
•       Government: monarchy
•       Currency: Native gold and silver coins, Kepeng (coins imported from China and later produced locally)
•       Defeated Srivijaya in 1290
•       Great prosperity due to two factors:
  1. Fertile northeast lowlands of Java suitable for rice cultivation
  2. Majapahit’s ports on north coast important stations along the spice route of Malaku – as spices passed through Java, Majapahit made profits.
•       . Declined after succession struggle resulted by death of Hayam Wuruk’s death

Portugal Flag then
Portuguese (1512 - 1850)
  • First Europeans to reach the country
  • Wanted to dominate the spice trade
  • Also propagated Christianity to the locals
  • Established trading posts and forts
  • Imprint of Portuguese culture on the local
  • Dutch colonialism led to only control of Solor, Flores and Timor, but ultimately, lost in maintaining control of the spice trade