Decline of Srivijaya's maritime hegemony

Timeline

1. c. 1175Malacca Strait · Southeast AsiaAfter the Chola sack of Palembang in the eleventh century, Srivijaya's central authority was long impaired. By the 1170s, new ports on the eastern Malay Peninsula and in the Sunda Strait diverted Chinese and Indian merchant ships; Srivijaya's ability to tax and escort strait traffic was greatly reduced, and vassals sought independence or aligned with new powers.
2. c. 1175–1180Southern tip of the Malay Peninsula · Malay PeninsulaTemasek (modern Singapore) became an important entrepôt under rulers such as Sang Nila Utama, while Langkasuka (around modern Patani) strengthened its control over trade in the northern peninsula. These new centers diverted Srivijaya's traditional trade routes, accelerating its transformation from a 'maritime empire' into a local polity.