As early as the seventh century, powerful
Buddhist and Hindu empires challenged each other for supremacy in Indonesia:
the Buddhist Srivijaya were centered in Sumatra, while the Hindu Mataram
located their capital on Java. The rich architectural and cultural legacy that
remains from that time forms the basis for Indonesia's national identity. In
the thirteenth century, the Hindu Majapahit of Java faced a strong challenge
from Muslim forces, which spread south from the Malay peninsula. Slowly losing ground,
the Hindus retreated to Bali, where they remain today. The rest of the islands
became Muslim, and various sultanates were established.
The sixteenth century marked the
arrival of the Portuguese, the first Europeans in Indonesia. Although the
Portuguese broke the Islamic hold on Indonesia, they were eventually displaced
in turn by the Dutch, who named the area the Dutch East Indies. Although a
revolt led by Javanese Prince Diponegoro in 1825 briefly threatened Holland's
empire, Dutch rule continued until W.W.II and invasion by the Japanese. The
Indonesian revolutionary nationalist movement, led by Sukarno, welcomed the
Japanese as a potential force of liberation, and at the war's end the movement
embarked upon a bloody war of independence against the restored Dutch rule.
Although the war dragged on for four long years, from 1945-1949, the
independence movement was ultimately victorious.
Turmoil characterized the first
decade of Indonesian independence, until in 1957 Sukarno unified power in his
own person. An attempted coup against Sukarno in 1965 brought renewed turmoil;
however, the army led by General Suharto restored order and initiated a purge
of communists. Eventually Suharto eased Sukarno out of the presidency and
assumed office himself. Suharto's rule ushered in a period of stability and
economic development.
Indonesia's varied past has
produced a remarkable array of vibrant cultures,making it one of the world's
most diverse and fascinating travel destinations. Today, Indonesia is the fifth
most populous nation on Earth, with over 180 million citizens comprising over
300 ethnicities. Most Indonesians are of Malay or Polynesian descent, though
the country's history has produced minority populations from India, China,
Arabia, and Persia, as well as from European colonial powers such as Portugal,
Holland, Spain, and England.
Although primarily a Muslim
nation, Indonesia is marked by wide religious tolerance. Hinduism thrives on
Bali, and Christianity has a significant presence on Flores, Timor, and several
other islands. Indonesians speak numerous languages and dialects, but the
common language is Bahasa Indonesia. English and Dutch are also widely spoken.
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