Briefly characterize the main periods of Indonesian history Essay

Briefly characterize the main periods of Indonesian history - Essay Example Foreign influence on Indonesia is quite apparent and it had been an important trading location for various civilisations and as such also a prize colony. Going back in history there has been fossil evidence that shows Indonesia to be inhabited for more than five hundred thousand years (Pope, 1988). However, in terms of recorded history, the seventh century A.D. is more important since this is the time when the smaller kingdoms were united into the Sriwijaya kingdom (Drakeley, 2005). Naval forces were naturally important to Indonesian kings and based on their strength in the sea they were able to control the trade which went through the region. Contact with Hindu and Buddhist religions also influenced the structure of the country’s culture and religious makeup to the extent that by the tenth century the dynasties which held power over Indonesia had become Hindu or in some cases Buddhists (Drakeley, 2005). The period of Hindu kingdoms lasted till the 13th century when Indonesia had its second experience of traders turning into rulers (Ricklefs, 1993). Islam came to Indonesia with traders carrying goods from the Islamic empire and regions such as a Persia and India which had already been influenced by Islamic missionaries, traders or raiders. Hindu kings were influenced by and converted to Islam and the first such king was the Sultan of Demak. He was a powerful force in spreading Islam to the other island kingdoms of the region and caused the retreat of Hinduism and Buddhism from the islands. A commander under the Sultan of Demak conquered the capital of the West Java Kingdom of Pajajaran which was called Sunda Kelapa. After the conquest the city was renamed as Jaya Karta which means great city. The name later changed to Jakarta and it remains the capital city of the country to this day (AsianInfo, 2000). From the western world, the