Sumatra
(also spelled Sumatara and Sumatera) is the sixth
largest island of the world (approximately 470,000
km²) and is the third largest island of Indonesia
after Borneo (of which Kalimantan belongs to Indonesia)
and New Guinea.An ancient name for Sumatra was Swarna
Dwipa, (Sanskrit for Isle of Gold), apparently based
on the fact that mines in the Sumatran highlands were
exporting gold from fairly early times.With its location
in the India-China sea trade route, several trading
towns flourished, especially in the eastern coast,
and were influenced by Indian religions. The most
notable of these were the Srivijaya and the Sumudra.
Srivijaya was a Buddhist monarchy centered in what
is now Palembang. Dominating the region through trade
and conquest throughout the 7th–9th century,
the kingdom helped spread the Malay culture throughout
Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, and western Borneo. The
empire was thalassocratic, a maritime power that extended
its influence from island to island.(source:wikipedia
-the free encyclopedia) |
