Asian Trade and European Influence in the Indonesian Archipelago Between 1500 and About 1630

Jul 8, 2026

Upload by Levi

Comparative study of native trade in the Indonesian archipelago focuses on the entry and roles of foreign traders from both Asian and European spheres between 1500 and about 1630. Using Dutch East India Company archival sources alongside Portuguese, English, and limited native materials, the author supplements and critiques earlier sociological interpretations and revises key antithetical assumptions. The book develops two parts: trade centered on Malacca before European arrival and the later European-influenced period, examining how Portuguese expansion affected Asian trade and traffic.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages480

Reading Time20 h 10 min

Preface

Introduction

Trade and Traffic in the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula prior to the 15th century

The Rise of Malacca

Malacca at the end of the 15th century

The commercial traffic of Malacca at the end of the 15th century

Trade in the Indonesian Archipelago not centred exclusively on Malacca

The central theme of this comparativestudy of the position of native trade inIndonesia is the appearance of foreigntraders both Asian and European.Newsources of information,e.g.the originaldocuments in the Dutch East IndiaCompany Archives as well as Portu-guese,English and a few native sourceshave enabled the author to supplementand to criticize the economic aspects ofthe sociological studies of B.Schriekeand J.C.van Leur,and to establish abasis for comparison.Although a criti-cal historical research has partly con-firmed the general conclusions at whichthey had arrived,also in respect of anearlier period not dealt with by them indetail,it became apparent that in par-ticular Van Leur's antithetical tenetshad to be revised. The book falls into two distinct parts.Thanks to the great interest displayedby the Portuguese on their first contactwith Asia it has been possible to compilean accurate and comprehensive accountof trade in the Malay-Indonesian regionbefore the arrival of the Europeans.Special attention has been given here tothe rise of the commercial port ofMalacca and its development into acentral market.The author has suc-ceeded in compiling a fairly reliableaccount of an Asian trading communityat the time_when it had been hardlyaffected by European penetration.Thisaccount includes a summary of thenature and amount of the shipping andcommercial traffic concentrated onMalacca,the routes followed and theshare held in it by East-and West-Asians,with special reference to theIndonesian Archipelago.Trade withplaces other than Malacca is alsodiscussed. In dealing with the later period,inthe second part of her book,when thestress shifts to the European element,the author has attempted first of all toascertain the impact of the Europeanexpansion on Asian trade,rather thanto overstress the European point of view.So as to arrive at a more independentjudgment,a description of the effect ofthe Portuguese upon trade and traffic # ASIAN TRADE AND EUROPEAN INFLUENCE ASIAN TRADEAND EUROPEAN INFLUENCE # IN THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGOBETWEEN 1500 AND ABOUT 1630 BY # M.A.P.MEILINK-ROELOFSZ THE HAGUEMARTINUS NIJHOFF 1962 Photomechanical reprint 1969 Published vwith a grant from the Netherlands Organization for the Advancementof Pure Research(Z.W.0.) ISBN 978-94-015-1690-7 ISBN 978-94-015-2835-1(eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-015-2835-1 ◎1962 by Martinus Nijhoff,The Hague,NetherlandsAll rights reserved,including the right to translate orto reproduce this book or parts thereofin any form Aan de nagedachtenis van mijn man PREFACE Now that this study is completed and I wish to make due acknowledg-ment to all those who have in any degree contributed towards itsrealization,my thoughts turn in the first place to the one to whomthis book is dedicated.It is a great grief to me that he who took suchan intense interest in my work has not lived to see its conclusion.Itwas he who in the beginning urged me to venture upon this courseof study and whose encouragement helped me in moments of de-spondency.The high standard which,with his keen and criticaljudgment,he set for his own work,was an example to me,and I shallstrive to maintain it in my future studies. Not only did he help me to lay the foundation of my knowledge ofarchive science,but he was also my guide in a field new to me in manyrespects,that of Asian maritime trade.His wide knowledge of medievalEuropean trade in the Baltic area led me to compare and contrastthe two worlds of East and West and thus helped me to obtain adeeper insight into the differences and similarities between the variousproblems involved. I am greatly indebted to Prof.Dr.J.M.Romein,who has followedthe progress of my studies with great interest all these years,andon whose help and support,sometimes in very difficult circumstances,I have always been able to rely.His unceasing encouragement,his frequent good advice,and his critical judgment have been ofexceptional value to me.For all this,I tender hi

FAQs

What sources does the study use to examine trade in the Indonesian archipelago?

It draws on original documents from the Dutch East India Company Archives as well as Portuguese, English, and a few native sources to supplement and critique earlier studies.

How is the book structured to address the period before and after European arrival?

It is divided into two distinct parts: trade in the Malay-Indonesian region before Europeans arrive (with special focus on Malacca) and a later part that analyzes European impact on Asian trade.

What is the main focus of the Malacca-centered sections?

They compile an account of an Asian trading community and summarize the nature and volume of shipping and commercial traffic concentrated on Malacca, including routes and participation by East and West Asians.

Jul 8, 2026

Upload by Levi