1. Indonesian Trade Relations with India and China
At the beginning of our era a century, the archipelago country have established relationships with nations in Asia. Form of trade that took place at the time it begins trading and shipping activities. As a result of trade and shipping, meeting arose a culture that gave birth to a new culture for the people of the archipelago. The process of mixing between two or more cultures meet each other and influence the culture is called acculturation. The existence of trade relations at the beginning of the century our era, based on the existence of sources both external and internal.
a. External sources
1) Source from India
According to Van Leur and Wolters, activities Indonesia trade relations with Asian nations was first done in India, then China. Evidence of trade relations can be known datri Jataka book and the book of the Ramayana. Jataka Book Swarnabhumi name of a golden land that can be achieved after a perilous journey. Swarnabhumi in question is the island of Sumatra. Book of the Ramayana and Swarnadwipa Yawadwipa name. According to experts, Yawadwipa (Island Rice) allegedly called for the island of Java, while Swarnadwipa (island of gold and silver) is the island of Sumatra.
Well, when there is trade relations between India and Indonesia are actively? Jataka Book of the Ramayana and the book does not mention explicitly the occurrence of trade relations with places in Indonesia.
One of the books of Indian literature that can be trusted is the book Mahaniddesa a hint that the people of India have known several places in Indonesia in the 3rd century AD. In
Geographike book written in the 2nd century also mentioned the existing trade relations between India and Indonesia. From these two statements, we can conclude that the intensive occurrence of trade relations between Indonesia and India began the century-the century (2-3 century AD).
2) Sources of China
Contact relations between Indonesia and China are thought to have evolved in the 5th century. The evidence that strengthens the relationship among them is the journey of a Buddhist monk, Fa Hien.
In about the year 413 AD, Fa Hien traveled from India to Ye-po-ti (Tarumanegara) and returned to China by sea. Furthermore, the Emperor of China, Wen Ti sent a messenger to the She-po (Java). Based on the evidence we can conclude that in the 5th century has made trade relations and direct shipping between Indonesia and China.
Traded goods from China in the form of silk, paper, furry animal skins, cinnamon, and porcelain goods. Trade goods from India in the form of carvings, ivory, jewelry, woven fabric, glass, gems, and fine wool in exchange for commodities from Indonesia such as spices, gold, and silver.
3) Sources of Greece
Other information about the existence of trade relations between Indonesia and India, and China can be known from Claudius Ptolemy, a Greek geographer. In his book entitled Geographike written in the 2nd century, Ptolemy mentions the name of which means the island Iabadio barley. Maybe that word is the Greek word for call Yawadwipa, which means also the island of barley. Thus, as mentioned in the book
b. Internal sources
The presence of external sources, such as from India, China and Greece, strengthened the existing resources in Indonesia alone. The sources of history in the country to strengthen the trade relations between Indonesia and India and China, among others, as follows.
1) Inscription
The oldest inscriptions in Indonesia that shows relations between Indonesia and India, for example in East Kalimantan Inscription Mulawarman shaped yupa. Similarly, inscriptions from the Kingdom Tarumanegara Purnawarman in West Java. All the inscriptions written in Sanskrit language and letters Pallawa.
2) Ancient Books
Ancient scriptures that exist in Indonesia are usually written on palm leaves written using Java language and the ancient writings also mwerupakan influence of Sanskrit and writing Pallawa. Ability to read and write is obtained from the influence Hindus and Buddhists.
3) Buildings-Building Ancient
Ancient buildings are patterned Hindu or Buddhist consisting of temples, stupas, reliefs, and statues. Many relics of the ancient buildings of the Hindu or Buddhist-style in Indonesia. Likewise relics Chinese dynasties. This suggests a relationship between Indonesia, India, and China.
Indonesia trade relations with India and China has put Indonesia in the midst of the ancient trade and shipping. However, Indian and Chinese cultural influences on the development history of Indonesia is very different. This was due in later development, Indian traders in addition to trade, they also spread the religion and the Hindu-Buddhist culture. The Brahmins, or priests to join the merchants sailed, they stop in these areas to spread the religion and culture of Hinduism and Buddhism. Thus, trade relations with India has led to major changes in the livelihood of the Indonesian nation,
both in the social, cultural, and political as the impact of the spread of religion and Hindu-Buddhist culture. Proven in Indonesia emerged kingdoms patterned Hinduism and Buddhism spread across various regions in Indonesia, such as Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Bali.