The Majapahit Empire was a powerful Hindu-Buddhist maritime kingdom based in eastern Java, Indonesia, which existed from 1293 to the early 16th century and at its peak controlled much of Southeast Asia.[1][2][3][4][5]
Essential context and supporting details:
– Founding and Expansion: Majapahit was founded by Raden Wijaya in 1293 after he collaborated with Mongol forces to defeat rival Jayakatwang, then expelled the Mongols from Java. The name ‘Majapahit’ comes from the local *maja* fruit, which tasted bitter.[2][3][1]
– Golden Age: The empire reached its height under King Hayam Wuruk (reigned 1350–1389) and his powerful prime minister, Gajah Mada (c. 1313–1364). Gajah Mada vowed to unite the archipelago—a promise known as the Palapa Oath—and led successful campaigns extending Majapahit’s influence over various kingdoms across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, southern Thailand, Timor Leste, and parts of the southwestern Philippines.[3][4][5][9][1][2]
– **Economic and Cultural Advancements:**
– Majapahit controlled the crucial Strait of Malacca, dominating regional maritime trade, especially in spices, gold, and wood.[7]
– The society was noted for sophisticated administration, extensive irrigation for agriculture, and vibrant art and literature, with the capital Trowulan described as cosmopolitan and artistically rich.[8][3][7]
– The *Nagarakretagama* epic poem (written in 1365) offers details about its court and the empire’s reach.[5][3][7]
– **Decline:** After Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada died, the empire faced internal divisions, the loss of control over outlying territories, and the gradual rise of Islamic sultanates, culminating in the takeover of its capital by the Demak Sultanate in 1478. The spread of Islam in Java contributed to the dissolution of Majapahit’s Hindu-Buddhist culture.[2][3][7]
– **Legacy:** Majapahit is remembered as one of Southeast Asia’s greatest empires and is used as a symbol of unity and power in Indonesian history.[3][5]
Additional relevant information:
– Majapahit’s direct control likely covered Java and Bali, while its influence over outlying areas was established through vassal tributaries and military expeditions, rather than permanent occupation.[13][2][3]
– The empire’s main sources are the *Pararaton* and the *Nagarakretagama*, though their historicity is sometimes disputed; archaeological evidence from sites like Trowulan supports their significance.[8][3]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[2] https://www.britannica.com/place/Majapahit-empire
[3] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Majapahit
[4] https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/majapahit-the-most-powerful-empire-in-asia-that-most-people-have-never-heard-of/
[5] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5P-t_o9M3Y
[7] https://www.theproductiveteacher.com/the-majapahit-empire-for-unit-1-of-ap-world-history
[8] https://www.wmf.org/monuments/trowulan
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTqar76MBF4
[10] https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/ap-world/majapahit-kingdom
[11] http://politics-history.mozello.com/page-1/params/group/132591
[12] https://historytimelines.co/timeline/majapahit-empire
[13] https://www.newmandala.org/was-majapahit-really-an-empire/
The Majapahit Empire was a powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdom based in eastern Java, Indonesia, existing from 1293 to the early 16th century and is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential empires in Southeast Asian history.[2][3][7]
– **Founding and Rise:** Majapahit was founded by Raden Wijaya in 1293 after the fall of the Singhasari kingdom and a successful military alliance with then subsequent expulsion of invading Mongol (Yuan) forces.[3][2]
– **Expansion and Power:** Its golden age occurred under King Hayam Wuruk (reigned 1350–1389) and his prime minister Gajah Mada, who led territorial expansion. At its peak, Majapahit claimed influence across present-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, southern Thailand, Timor Leste, and parts of the Philippines. Its reach is documented in the epic poem *Nagarakretagama* (1365), though modern historians debate whether these were permanent possessions or tribute states.[1][2]
– **Society and Achievements:** The empire was wealthy from controlling vital maritime trade routes, particularly the Strait of Malacca, facilitating exchange between India and China. Majapahit was renowned for its sophisticated administration, complex legal and irrigation systems, and rich culture including art, dance, and literature.[5][6]
– **Decline:** After the deaths of Gajah Mada and Hayam Wuruk, internal conflict and the rise of Islamic trading states diminished the empire’s power. By the late 15th century, its territories had fragmented, and the capital fell to the Demak Sultanate in 1478, marking the end of the Hindu-Buddhist royal line.[3][5]
– **Legacy:** Majapahit’s memory endures in Indonesian history as a unifying symbol, often invoked as a precedent for the archipelago’s modern boundaries, and as a pinnacle of cultural and political achievement in the region.[7][2]
[1] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Majapahit
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[3] https://www.britannica.com/place/Majapahit-empire
[4] https://historytimelines.co/timeline/majapahit-empire
[5] https://www.theproductiveteacher.com/the-majapahit-empire-for-unit-1-of-ap-world-history
[6] https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/majapahit-the-most-powerful-empire-in-asia-that-most-people-have-never-heard-of/
[7] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[8] http://politics-history.mozello.com/page-1/params/group/132591/
[9] https://baliqueartsofindonesia.com/blogs/blog/discovering-majapahit-article-2-history
[10] https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/ap-world/majapahit-empire
Here are reputable internet links to learn more about the Majapahit Empire and its key topics:
– General overview and history of the Majapahit Empire:
– Wikipedia: Majapahit[1]
– Britannica: Majapahit empire[2]
– New World Encyclopedia: Majapahit[3]
– Indonesia at Melbourne – Article: Majapahit: the most powerful empire in Asia that most people have never heard of[4]
– Simple Wikipedia: Majapahit[5]
– The Nagarakretagama (the famous court poem describing the empire’s reach and culture):
– Wikipedia: Nagarakretagama[6]
– Wikiwand Article: Nagarakretagama[7]
– DBpedia: About: Nagarakretagama[8]
– Britannica: Nāgarakṛtāgama[9]
– Majapahit culture, art, and legacy:
– HD Asian Art Blog: The Golden Age of Majapahit Art: The Pinnacle of Javanese Civilization[10]
– Balique Arts of Indonesia: Discovering Majapahit[11]
– Educational and multimedia resources:
– YouTube (Rise and Fall of the Majapahit Empire): Rise and Fall of the Majapahit Empire: Golden Age …[12]
– YouTube (The Mark of Empire): Indonesia’s Spice Kingdom | The Mark Of Empire | Majapahit[13]
These sources provide comprehensive historical and cultural perspectives on the Majapahit Empire, its most famous figures, written records, and lasting impact.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[2] https://www.britannica.com/place/Majapahit-empire
[3] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Majapahit
[4] https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/majapahit-the-most-powerful-empire-in-asia-that-most-people-have-never-heard-of/
[5] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarakretagama
[7] https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Nagarakretagama
[8] https://dbpedia.org/page/Nagarakretagama
[9] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nagarakrtagama
[10] https://www.hdasianart.com/blogs/news/the-golden-age-of-majapahit-art-the-pinnacle-of-javanese-civilization
[11] https://baliqueartsofindonesia.com/blogs/blog/discovering-majapahit-article-2-history
[12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTqar76MBF4
[13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5P-t_o9M3Y
[14] https://www.theproductiveteacher.com/the-majapahit-empire-for-unit-1-of-ap-world-history
[15] https://melampa.com/tour/full-day-tour-trowulan-majapahit-empire-legacy/
[16] http://politics-history.mozello.com/page-1/params/group/132591
[17] https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/what-s-behind-the-majapahit-empire-s-hold-on-indonesia
[18] https://historytimelines.co/timeline/majapahit-empire
[19] https://www.newmandala.org/was-majapahit-really-an-empire/
[20] https://kids.kiddle.co/Nagarakretagama
