The Coming of Islam to Southeast Asia

Chapter 7 (part 4 of 4)

Trad

eMerchants often traded in southeast Asia, but up until

the 700s they did so with each other, not so much the

people of southeast Asia

By the 700s, southeast Asians begin to get involved

in the trade (especially in places like Sumatra and

Malaya)

The southeast Asians export mostly luxury items

(aromatic woods and spices like nutmeg)

It was through this trade that Islam spreads to the people of Southeast Asia

Srivijaya From 600s to 1200s, Srivijaya was biggest

trade empire in southeast Asia

The people of Srivijaya were Buddhist

When Srivijaya collapsed in the

1200s, it opened door for Islam to spread to

southeast Asia

Islam Mostly Spreads Peacefully

Islam was introduced

and spread by merchants

First Sumatra won over in

the 1200s, then Malaya

(Malaysia now)

Malacca

Big trade city in S.E. Asia

Converting Malacca to Islam was key to converting

much of S.E. Asia

Demak (in Java)

Demak was most powerful trading state in north Java

Islam next spread to Demak, on island of Java

Srivijaya (Buddhist) falls, opens

door to Islam spreading

Sumatra is converted to

Islam

Malaya next converted to Islam (city of

Malacca)

Demak on Java is

converted next

Benefits of Converting to Islam

People in trading cities benefited from converting to Islam because most traders coming in were Muslims, so it improved relations with them

Only the elites in southeast Asia had converted to Indian religions (mostly Buddhism), so Muslims were able to successfully convert the masses

Only Bali (which was Hindu) and Mainland southeast Asia (which was Buddhist) didn’t

convert to Islam

Sufis Key to Spreading Islam

Sufis (Muslim mystics) played big role in spreading Islam to

India, and now played big role in spreading Islam to southeast

Asia

Ulama (orthodox Muslims) do not like the Sufis because they let people maintain pre-Islamic

traditions, but that helped people choose to convert

Example of pre-Islamic traditions that were allowed to be kept is the Javanese shadow

puppet showsClick on the image above to view shadow puppet show

Women

Women in southeast Asia had better

status than other Muslim areas

In many cases, family lineage traced through mother’s side

Women were active traders and often

dominated markets