ASIAN TRADE ARCHEOLOGY

Asian Trade Archeology

Asian Trade Archeology

Introduction to the History of Srivijaya

Kampuchea was mainland Southeast Asia's primary power the maritime empire of Sri-Vijaya held away over much of the insular region during these same centuries. One of the most important sources for very early history, the diary of the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Jing written in the late seventh century notes the abundance of shipping and mariners of all Asian nations in Sri Vijaya's harbors. It was common for ships to put up for months in these ports waiting for the turn of the monsoon winds to enable them to return westward across the Indian Ocean. (Raymond, 1965) The paper will attempt to highlight that trade between many regions date backs from centuries and the realization of the impact of the trading was created after the great depression. In this regard, the paper will also seek to establish that there were great contributors in the field of trading which made a new dimension of trade work policies.

Owing much to the initiatives and support of Indian colonists, the Sumartra based Sri Vijayan kings gradually forced their way into the breach in intra Asian trade left by the decline of Funan and Champa. Sri Vijayan kings gradually forced their ways into the breach in intra- Asian trade left by the decline of Finan and Champa. Sri Vijaya sought little territory but focused instead on dominance in the busy straits of Malacca trade route, as well as supplying the South China parts with island spices and foodstuffs. It was a lucrative business, and the conquest of Sri-Vijaya by the Chola buccaneers from India did not impede it. In the contrary, Indian conquest brought a higher degree of organization and expansion to trade. Chinese recognition of the rights of Sri-Vijaya to monopolize the north south trade along the Chinese coasts and down to Malacca was also a huge asset. When this recognition was withdrawn because of Chinese rivalry, the empire began to decline in earnest. (Shiro, 1981)

Trade System of Srivijaya

In the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago a different pattern emerged. For centuries, this area had been linked to regional trade networks, and much of its wealth had come from the export of tropical products to China, India and the Middle East. The vast majority of the inhabitants of the region were Malaysia people wide spread from their origin homeland in southeastern China into island Southeast Asia and even to more distant locations in the South Pacific, such as Tahiti, Hawaii, and Easter Island. (Peter, 1978)

Eventually, the islands of the Indonesian archipelago gave rise to two of the region's most notable trading societies-Srivijaya and Majapahit. Both were based in large part on spices. As the wealth of the Arab empire in the Middle East and then of Western Europe increased, so did the demand for the products of East Asia. Merchant fleets from India and the Arabian Peninsula sailed to the Indonesian islands to buy cloves, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, precious woods, and other exotic products ...