[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-45949-en":3,"doc-seo-45949-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":21,"is_downloadable":21,"audit_status":21,"page_count":22,"language":23,"language_code":24,"site_id":25,"html_lang":24,"table_of_contents":26,"faqs":27,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},45949,7971461740909,"Levi","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d",8,"Research & Report","Śriwijaya: Myth or Reality?","Śriwijaya was a kingdom on Sumatra, Indonesia, dated roughly from 600 to 1400 CE. First described in 1918 through written records from Sumatran, Indian, Arabian, and Chinese origins, it was portrayed as a maritime thalassocracy controlling the Strait of Malacca. Recent archaeological surveys and excavations in South Sumatra and Jambi challenge this model, indicating regional polities with strong hinterland connections. Using peer polity interaction and mandala theory, the thesis reassesses continuity and argues for shifting centers from Palembang to Jambi, while noting how later narratives preserved the thalassocracy image.","Master thesis archaeology, specialisation Asia, Leiden University  \nŚriwijaya: Myth or Reality?  \nRoy-William Bottenberg  \nS0212652  \nSupervisors: Dr. H.I.R. Hinzler & Dr. I.R. Bausch  \nLeiden, march 2010  \nPhotograph on the front: [source: beeldbank.wsd.leidenuniv.nl](source: beeldbank.wsd.leidenuniv.nl) (OD-19509), location where the Karang Brahi inscription has been found. Author unknown.  \nMaster thesis archaeology, specialisation Asia, Leiden University  \nŚriwijaya: Myth or Reality?  \nRoy-William Bottenberg  \nS0212652  \nSupervisors: Dr. H.I.R. Hinzler & Dr. I.R. Bausch  \nLeiden, februari 2010  \nAbstract:  \nŚriwijaya was a kingdom on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia between 600 and 1400 A.D. It was discovered in 1918 in written records of Sumatran, Indian, Arabian and Chinese origin by Georges Coèdes. The records portrait Śriwijaya as a thalassocracy, a strong maritime empire that controlled the Straits of Malacca. In the last ten to twenty years, the image of Śriwijaya asa strong maritime thalassocracy, with a powerful navy, international trade and little contact with its hinterland as parameters, is falling apart. Archaeological excavations and surveys reveal no strong maritime empire, but polities or kingdoms, on Sumatra only and not polities across the Straits of Malacca. Almost all the archaeological data gathered in this thesis of the provinces of South-Sumatra and Jambi on Sumatra is placed in the context of the peer polity interaction theory and the mandala theory. A closer look at the archaeological data, together with the written records, to prove Śriwijaya did not last more than six centuries. It appears that the first polity of Śriwijaya was the polity at Palembang, South-Sumatra from roughly 650 to 1025 A.D, and the second polity of Śriwijaya was the polity at Jambi, Jambi from 1079 to 1400 A.D. The Cola raid in [1025 A.D. at](1025 A.D. at) Palembang shifted the capital of Śriwijaya to Jambi to maintain better contact with its hinterland by means of the Batang Hari river, for products such as gold, tin and non-timber forest products to reach the international market through Śriwijaya. Written records change when the capital shifted. Epigraphical sources on Sumatra on Śriwijaya dissappear, and its name changes in Chinese records. Despite the fact archaeological data reveals no strong thalassocracy, but instead reveals trade polities with good contact with their hinterland to maintain their trade products on which the international market depends, the image of Śriwijaya as a thalassocracy remains alive, by old epigraphical and other written records together with nation-building and Cultural Tourism by the Indonesian government. Future research should focus on the archaeological differences in material culture between Palembang and Jambi to define if Śriwijaya lasted over six centuries or if it was only the early polity at Palembang, where the polity at Jambi was different than its predecessor.  \nContents:  \nList of Figures & Tables: 7  \nPreface: 8  \nChapter 1: Introduction: 9  \nRegional Background of Sumatra: 12  \nŚriwijaya as a Case Study: 13  \nData on Śriwijaya: 14  \nResearch Questions: 15  \nChapter 2: Research History: 18  \nŚriwijaya According to Contemporaries 18  \nChinese Sources 18  \nArab Sources 20  \nIndian Sources 20  \nSumatran and Javanase Sources 20  \nThe Image of Śriwijaya 21  \nCoèdes: 22  \nDutch Colonial Rule: 24  \nIndianization: 25  \nNation building & Cultural Tourism: 26  \nThe First Scientific Excavations & Surveys: 28  \nChapter 3: Theoretical Framework: 30  \nArchaeology: 31  \nPeer Polity Interaction: 32  \nA Coastal State and its Theories: 36  \nMandala: 38  \nWorld Systems Theory: 42  \nChapter 4: The Archaeology of South Sumatra: 44  \nChapter 5: The Archaeology of Jambi: 53  \nChapter 6: The Polities and the Material Culture: 59  \nEvaluation of the Written Accounts: 59  \nThe Archaeology of South Sumatra: 60  \nThe Archaeology of Jambi: 61  \nThe Polities of Śriwijaya: 62  \nExchange & Contact with the H","cbCait0RSTudjGxr","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCait0RSTudjGxr","pdf",2728927,2,1,94,"English","en",105,"# Abstract\n# Preface\n# Chapter 1: Introduction\n## Regional Background of Sumatra\n## Research Questions\n# Chapter 2: Research History\n## Śriwijaya According to Contemporaries\n## The Image of Śriwijaya\n# Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework\n## Peer Polity Interaction\n## Mandala\n## World Systems Theory\n# Chapter 4: The Archaeology of South Sumatra\n# Chapter 5: The Archaeology of Jambi\n# Chapter 6: The Polities and the Material Culture\n## Evaluation of the Written Accounts\n## Exchange & Contact with the Hinterland\n# Chapter 7: Conclusion\n# Bibliography\n# Appendices","[{\"question\":\"What historical image of Śriwijaya is reassessed in this thesis?\",\"answer\":\"The thesis reexamines the portrayal of Śriwijaya as a powerful maritime thalassocracy controlling the Strait of Malacca, especially the claim of limited hinterland contact and strong naval dominance.\"},{\"question\":\"Which archaeological regions are examined to evaluate the Śriwijaya model?\",\"answer\":\"The focus is on archaeological data from the Sumatran provinces of South-Sumatra and Jambi, comparing how material evidence aligns with written records.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the thesis explain the possible timeline and shift between centers?\",\"answer\":\"It proposes two main polities: an early center at Palembang (about 650–1025 CE) and a later one at Jambi (about 1079–1400 CE). The Cola raid around 1025 CE at Palembang is suggested as a driver for shifting the capital to Jambi to strengthen inland connectivity via the Batang Hari river.\"}]",1783468780,237,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":28},"sriwijaya-myth-or-reality","",{"@graph":36,"@context":85},[37,53,68],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,47,50],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",{"item":48,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":49},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":51,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":52},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/sriwijaya-myth-or-reality/45949/",4,{"url":51,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":41,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-12","2026-07-07",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What historical image of Śriwijaya is reassessed in this thesis?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"The thesis reexamines the portrayal of Śriwijaya as a powerful maritime thalassocracy controlling the Strait of Malacca, especially the claim of limited hinterland contact and strong naval dominance.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"Which archaeological regions are examined to evaluate the Śriwijaya model?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"The focus is on archaeological data from the Sumatran provinces of South-Sumatra and Jambi, comparing how material evidence aligns with written records.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"How does the thesis explain the possible timeline and shift between centers?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"It proposes two main polities: an early center at Palembang (about 650–1025 CE) and a later one at Jambi (about 1079–1400 CE). The Cola raid around 1025 CE at Palembang is suggested as a driver for shifting the capital to Jambi to strengthen inland connectivity via the Batang Hari river.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":51,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":51},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":25},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,101,105,110,115,120,123,128,131,135],{"id":21,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},30,"research-report",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":127},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":126,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":130},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":132,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":133,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":134},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":136,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":137,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":138},19,"General","general"]