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After doing some research, Indonesia is quite a diverse place. Each island seems to have different sets of ethnicities. So how did those islands form one nation then? I know the Dutch controlled those islands for a while. Did the Dutch have something to do it? It also seems like the Javanese dominate the government, but they are largely confined to Java. The other bigger islands have significant populations of others. Why did these other ethnicities not just strike out on their own?
Indonesian territory are all former dutch east indies territory, yes the javanese did dominate the government since most of the independence movement took place in java, and also partly because java is the center of indonesia since the dutch east indies era. Javanese also are the largest ethnic group that counts 50% of the total population. But it doesnt mean that people from other islands do not have their own power within the capital. Indonesian independence however are based on bhineka tunggal ika that promises equal right of all ethnic group and as well religion, indonesia didnt have any state religion, so the more christian east are ok with the govt.
There are some protest from other islands and sentiment towards the government because of the javanese dominnce, but it wasnt that much of a big movement, there is of course separatist such as the aceh insurgency back then.
Is there any reason why Java is so densely populated compared to other islands? Were the volcanic soils more conducive to agriculture?
Im not sure but i think it was always the most populated island because of its relatively fertile soil and highly developed agriculture. It always have surpluses of rice production, until it was reverted by colonial power to more plantation.
Im not sure but i think it was always the most populated island because of its relatively fertile soil and highly developed agriculture. It always have surpluses of rice production, until it was reverted by colonial power to more plantation.
Yes, I suspect that volcanic ash did make the soil very fertile, and the area was more cultivated, whereas the other islands were mostly forested. Java is amazingly dense, smaller than Honshu with more people than Japan.
Yes, I suspect that volcanic ash did make the soil very fertile, and the area was more cultivated, whereas the other islands were mostly forested. Java is amazingly dense, smaller than Honshu with more people than Japan.
Yeah compared to many other island, java is more packed with active volcanoes, some of the lands in different islands are also fertile due to volcanic activities but varies with the level of rainforests. For example sumatra have more agricultural activitiy in the western side of the island compred to the east and north, because the volcanoes are more active there, bali are volcanic island too which is why rice terraces and plantations are thriving in the island. Borneo's absence of volcanoes makes it less attractive for agriculture, instead focuses mainly on oil palm plantation and others.
sriwijaya empire
majapahit empire and nusantara islands
It is arguable that Majapahit is just a faint propaganda of nationalism, the empire never truly ruled the archipelago, and there is a lot of proof for that. Just compare the ruins of Bagan and Trowulan, it is through the advancement level of cities that advanced civilization are often mirrored. Majapahit is respected kingdom of the archipelago for sure but its rule were mainly in Central-East Java, Madura and Bali only.
Srivijaya ruled Sumatra, West to Central Java and Eastern part of Borneo, but never the whole archipelago. Srivijaya is much more appealing when it comes to evidence of glory, such as ruins scattered throughout central Java during the times of Sailendra's Srivijaya. In Sumatra, unlike Java's richness in volcanic stones however they didn't build anything since most of the settlements are surrounded by vast rainforest and their structures are mainly made out of woods. But atleast the evidence of Srivijaya's existence and glory left marks outside of Indonesia in places such as Thailand and India.
It does seem strange to see Indonesia spread out the way it is and sharing some islands with Malaysia.
I'm headed to bali for 2 weeks in September so trying to understand Indonesia more. They Muslims here seem to be more tolerant of others than most other countries with Muslim majority.
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