Hindu-Buddhist Kingdoms (until 15th Century)

Long before Islam arrived, Indonesia was a center of Hindu and Buddhist civilization — creating some of the greatest structures of these religions, which still stand today.

Srivijaya (7th–13th Century)

The Srivijaya Empire, centered near Palembang on Sumatra, was a maritime power that controlled trade between India and China. Srivijaya dominated the Strait of Malacca — one of the world's most important shipping routes — and became wealthy through spice trade, tariffs, and tribute. The Chinese monk Yijing studied here in the 7th century and reported on a flourishing Buddhist scholarship with over 1,000 monks.

The Majapahit Kingdom (1293–1500)

Majapahit was the most powerful empire the archipelago ever produced — a Hindu-Javanese empire that at the height of its power (under the legendary Prime Minister Gajah Mada) controlled most of present-day Indonesia, parts of Malaysia, and the Philippines. Majapahit is the historical reference point for Indonesia's current territory — the founding fathers of the Republic directly referred to Gajah Mada's vow to unite the entire archipelago.

Borobudur and Prambanan on Java are the most visible testimonies of this era — even though they date from the older Sailendra and Sanjaya periods. The reliefs of Borobudur depict everyday scenes, ships, and temples that shape our image of medieval Southeast Asia.