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Early formation of Srivijaya

Type Event Region Southeast Asia Time 501

In the 6th century, a maritime power centered on Palembang gradually integrated Malacca Strait shipping and spice trade nodes, forming the early poli…

Timeline

  1. 500–540Musi River estuary · SumatraSeveral port settlements along the Musi River on Sumatra's southeast coast gradually formed a trade alliance by controlling exports of spices, resins, and forest products. Archaeological and inscriptional evidence shows Buddhist temples and merit stelae of local rulers from this period, indicating the beginnings of political integration.
  2. 540–580Northern entrance of the Malacca Strait · Malacca StraitSrivijaya's power extended into the strait's shipping lanes, levying transit taxes on passing merchant ships and providing anchorage protection. Chinese texts such as the Book of Liang record a 'Fo-shi' (Srivijaya) kingdom south of 'Lion Kingdom' (Sri Lanka), reflecting its involvement in key nodes of the Indian Ocean–South China Sea trade network.
  3. 580–600Palembang · SumatraBy the late 6th century, Srivijaya, with Palembang as its capital, took shape as a maritime kingdom with Mahayana Buddhism as its ideology. The king styled himself a protector of the Dharma, attracting monks from South and Central Asia, laying the groundwork for the 7th-century golden age, embassies to the Tang dynasty, and expansion into Java.

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