While the unified state of Indonesia is a modern creation, the
area comprising the nation has a long history and has seen the
rise and fall of many states: Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim. This
collection of islands served for over 2000 years as the
crossroads of trade between China, Southeast Asia, India and the
Arabic states of Western Asia. Chinese, Arabic and Indian
traders plied the waters of this island nation, and trading
ports dotted the coastal states which existed and flourished
because of their excellent harbors. The most important of these
coastal states were on or near the Straits of Melaka (Malacca)
on the East and South coasts of Sumatra and on the North Java
coast, as trade between East and West passed through these
straits. In addition to these coastal trading states, a number
of inland states flourished based on the rich agricultural land
which comprised Central and East Java and the neighboring island
of Bali. These states produced the spices, foodstuffs,
sandalwood and medicines that were main