The appeal of Islam for politics in South East Asia during the 12th 17th centuries - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Southeast Asia covered the vast peninsula of Indochina and the widespread East Indies. In this location lie the countries of Burma, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Islam manifested a significant appeal for the Southeast Asia in the 12th throughout the 17th century. Over two-fifths of the region practice Islam as a religion. Most of the population involved in Muslim practices live in Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and on the Mindanao Island in Philippine Indonesia is distinct in the world as the single largest Muslim country, with a populace of about 212 million persons. Two-thirds of Malaysia is 23 million individuals and are Muslims. Evidently, Islam given that it was and it is still is a popular religion in south East Asia, it must have a greater influence as far as politics and policies of the day are concerned. Arguable, in the period 12th -17th centaury Islam appealed for polities in the South East Asia with a view to maintain dominance. As of mid 14th century, the Hindu-Javanese kingdom of Majapahit conducted an influence over an island kingdom and applied substantial pressure on the mainland. But it was by now experiencing two pressures to its commercial and cultural fame. . In Malaya it was disputed by the upcoming power of Siam; and in the islands its power was being destabilized by the coming of Islam. The islands had contacted with Islam, via Arab merchants, for long though their traditional cultural beliefs on India barred Islam from being acceptable to them until Islam was firmly recognized via Moslem rulers in the northern India, at during the end of the 12th century. Then, in the 13th century, Indian merchants from Gujerat transformed to Islam particular ports of northern part of Sumatra and from there Islam spread to Malay and through to the Philippines. The rise of Islam in Malaya was connected to the establishment and consequent significance of the resolution of Malacca on the western coast. Islam was founded in the onset of the 15th century, customarily by a Sumatran prince, Parameswara. The prince was changed to Islam, which in his power and the succeeding rulers extended all through the peninsula. Malacca became the major trading port in the Eastern region due to its favourable position on the trade routes connecting India, South East Asia and China. Malacca upheld its sovereignty, cosseted in its early times from Siamese antagonism by the diplomatic acts of the Chinese Ming rulers for a whole century. Consequentially, Malacca became the South East Asia Islam headquarters. In the meantime in Indonesia, the Majapahit Empire divided into smaller and scrawny Moslem nations and the Philippines The Philippines, was inhabited by a combination of Malays and Indonesians, organised in tribal groups referred to as “barangays". The units possessed definite culture, and did business widely with Arab, Indian and Chinese merchants; but isolated themselves from the different imperial resistance of South East Asia. Most of barangays were converted to Islam between 13th to 15th centuries, though remained excluded in external affairs till the arrival of Europeans during the 16th century. Islam also made insignificant effect on the South East Asia’s mainland which maintained devastatingly Buddhist. China sent many naval teams and diplomatic missions to all their neighbours proximate to Indian Ocean and the South China Seas between 1405 and 1433. The main intention of the chinece for their missions was to seek trade and military esteem. As the missions ended, the Europeans found permission for entry into the Far East Asia. The Arrival of the Europeans : The Portuguese, the Spaniards, and the Dutch. The Portuguese The Portuguese started massive voyages by the end of the 15th century to seek exploration and determination of trade routes towards the east especially India and China spice ...Download file to see next pagesRead More