Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c11.12

v2.c11.12

Although Suvarṇadvīpa is a mere geographical expression and a congeries of states, it came to be on two occasions, at least, almost a political entity. First, under the Śailendra kings from the end of the eighth to the beginning of the eleventh century A.D., and, secondly, in the palmy days of the Empire of Majapahit. Even in other periods, there has almost always been a close political relationship, be it friendly or hostile, between its constituent parts, such as we do not meet with between any of them and the outside world. Even now the predominance of the Malay-speaking people all over the area serves as a bond of unity, which is also artificially maintained to a large extent by common subjection to the Dutch. These considerations would be a further justification of the choice of Suvarṇadvīpa as a historical unit.