16th
Century Sundanese Royal Trade
Sariat Arifia1*,
Randy Van Zichem2, Arsyad Arsyad3,
Wahyu Bagja Sulfemi4, Daniel Zuchron5
1*,2,3,4,5ITB Vinus
Bogor, Indonesia
*email: [email protected]
Keywords |
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ABSTRACT |
Trade, Economy, Sunda Kingdom, national trade. International Trade |
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This
article aims to clarify the existence of the Sundanese scientifically in an
authoritative form, namely a kingdom that has a clear scope of territory,
power and authority so that the Sundanese have the ability to carry out
trade, especially in the 16th century and apart from colonial
historiographical architecture, that the Sundanese only did cultural
activities, mystical, marginalized, have no trade records. The research
method used is the historical method which includes five stages of work,
namely heuristics, field visits, criticism, interpretation, and
historiography. Grounded Theory is also used as a research methodology
approach. Research in the field is used as an effort to reconstruct
historical architecture that is clean from the influence of stories of
pitting against one another carried out by colonialism. The results of this
study indicate that even though the Sundanese are known to have a strong
culture, the strong Sundanese trading side was "darkened" along
with the Mastery of Sunda Kelapa which had changed its name to
"Jaya-karta" and was changed to "Batavia" for hundreds of
years. Colonization uses a narrative of pitting one against the other, so
that it is as if the Sunda Kingdom never existed, never had trade partners,
and only existed culturally. |
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INTRODUCTION
Sundanese are known to have a strong
cultural history, in fact Sundanese culture is a cultural root that has
enormous potential in the formation of Indonesian civilization considering that
in the course of its history, Sundanese and Sundanese traditions have
contributed a treasure of nobility of adab to the integration of Indonesia� but in addition to culture, it is necessary
to know that the economy is also one of the main factors of power that directs
and even determines the motion of history (Gunawan, 2021).� Therefore, studying economic history is very
important because it means also studying the directing and determining factors
of historical motion (Tosh, 2015). ��
But unfortunately, history, especially
economic history, almost never leaves a complete trace, especially for periods
of hundreds of years that are very far away from today's life (Jones, 2019). These lost traces are
mainly due to the influence of colonization for so long, that systemically the
freedom of trade of the local population was revoked and removed from the
original History, and replaced with the narrative that we are a lazy and stupid
nation (Michalopoulos & Papaioannou, 2020).
In facing the future, with high population
growth, in today's Indonesia, Bogor, which in the past was a major urban center
and is now also a highly populated urban center within the framework of
Indonesia, must have the same trading capabilities as in the past in order to
embrace the future (Rustiadi et al., 2021). In the past, the Sunda
Kingdom has had a balance between Spiritualism, Industrialization of trade and
also synchronization of Supply Chain management from upstream to downstream (Pandey & Lucktong, 2020).
METHODS
The historical method was used to conduct
this research. This method includes five stages of work, namely:� heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and
historiography (Bakri, 2020). Heuristics is finding
and collecting sources. Sources are obtained through literature review (Zhang et al., 2015). After that, in the
second stage, field visits were also made to various locations mentioned in the
literature review, including various Sunda regions which are now referred to as
West Java and Banten. After that, criticism and reinterpretation were carried
out. Finally, the writing stage is based on the findings in the field and is
interpreted by the author to be free from the influence of colonialism, which
for hundreds of years used the devide et impera methodology. In fact, in
16th-century Sundanese society there was already a government structure and
bureaucracy, as well as various types of work. This means that in this society
there is already a systemic and well-organized concept and theory of trade
economy.
RESULTS
A.
The
Kingdom of Sunda, its King and Geographical Area
Tome
Pires, a Portuguese intelligence agent disguised as an apothecary, in 1512 when
crossing Java Island he gave a report to the Portuguese King about the
existence of the famous Sunda Kingdom (Zurndorfer, 2023).�
Pires, described geographically the Sunda Kingdom with its clear
boundaries, which was located on the opposite side of Sumatra Island, very
close to the Kingdom of Tulang Bawang and Sekampung. Even from Way Sekampung
this journey only crossed and took one day at that time. While from the Kingdom
of Andalas it took a day and a night (Fadillah, 2021).�
The area
of the Sunda Kingdom in the 16th century stretched from the tip of Banten to
Cimanuk on the island of Java.� Pires,
said that there were differences in information, for ordinary people who might
not have seen the two kingdoms considered that the Sunda Kingdom controlled
half of Java. Others, those in positions of authority, believed that the Sunda
Kingdom occupied one-eighth of the island. They claimed that the circumference
of the Sunda Kingdom was 300 leagues (900 miles) (Briggs, 2015).
Pires
recounted a legend that in ancient times, God had created a river to separate
Java from the Sunda Kingdom and vice versa. That is why the river is overgrown
with trees along its course and reportedly, the trees on each side have
branches that touch the ground and lean towards each country. These trees are
large and towering beautifully.
The name
"Sunda" itself, revealed by Pires in 1512, is written in the
Kebonkopi II inscription found in Ciaruteun Ilir, Cibungbulang, Bogor, Bogor
Regency, West Java today. F.D.K. Bosch revealed that this inscription is dated
932 AD:
Translation:
"This
memorial stone is (to remark) the saying of Rakryan Juru Pangambat (Royal
Hunter), in the year 458 Saka (read 854 Saka or 932 CE), that the authority
(order) is returned to the king of Sunda.�(Guillot et
al., 1995).
Currently,
the findings of written inscriptions with the oldest Sundanese word can be
found, after which the description of the existence of the existence of the
Sundanese king and his name is stated in the Sanghyang Tapak inscription (1030
AD). According to the Sanghyang Tapak inscription which is dated 1030 AD (952
Saka), it is known that the Sunda kingdom was led by Maharaja Sri Jayabhupati
Jayamanahen Wisnumurti Samarawijaya Sakalabuwana Mandala Swaranindita Haro
Gowardhana Wikramottunggadewa. The inscription consists of 40 lines written in
Old Javanese script and language on 4 stones, found on the banks of the Cicatih
river in Cibadak, Sukabumi.
The first
three stones contain the following translation:
"Peace and well-being. In the year of Saka 952, Kartika month on the 12th
day on the light part, Hariang day, Kaliwon, first day, Wuku Tambir. Today is
the day that king of Sunda Maharaja Sri Jayabupati Jayamanahen Wisnumurti
Samarawijaya Sakalabuwanamandaleswaranindita Haro Gowardhana
Wikramottunggadewa, makes his marks on the Eastern part of Sanghiyang Tapak.
Made by Sri Jayabupati King of Sunda. And may there be nobody allowed to break
this law. In this part of river catching fish is forbidden, in the sacred area
of Sanghyang Tapak near the source of the river. Up until the border of sacred
Sanghyang Tapak marked by two big tree. So this inscriptions is made, enforced
with an oath.� (Danasasmita, 2022).
By linking
the existence of this inscription which is much earlier than Tome Pires'
records, the Sunda Kingdom is a kingdom that has existed for more than half a
century.
B.
The
structure of the Sunda Kingdom, its power authority and leadership guided by
the Almighty Godhead.
The
highest pyramid of Sundanese arrangements is organized by the Sunda King. Pires
described the King of Sunda as having power over the large city of Dayeuh
(Dayo), the city, land and port of Banten (Bantam), Pontang Harbor (Pomdam),
Ciaede Harbor (Cheguide), Tangerang Harbor (Tamgaram), Sunda Kelapa Harbor
(Calapa), Cimanuk Harbor (Chemano) (Winstedt, 1947).
Under the
King of Sunda, known as Sang Hyang (Samg Briamg), there was a deputy king
called Susuhunan (cocunam). Under him again there was a Treasurer known as
mangkubumi (macobumj). In Sunda, in addition to these important officials,
there were also captains or rulers in charge of cities, regions and harbors (Winstedt, 1947).
Pires
provides a detailed explanation of the comparative mention of terms when in
Java, the rulers were called patih (pate) while in Sundanese they were known as
prabu (paybou), for example: prabu A and prabu B the rulers of this area and
that area.
Pires did
not directly draw a comparative description between the Javanese and Sundanese
kings. However, if we combine the descriptions, then we know that Sunda is led
by Sang Hyang and his deputy is called Susuhunan, while Java is led by Batara
and his deputy is called Gusti patih (pate).
Pires
mentions that in the past there was a Sang aji (Sam Agy) known as "batara:
which means 'holy king'. Batara at that time, reportedly rarely appeared in
front of the people and the power was not in Batara's hands, but in the hands
of his deputy. Even to eat Batara, it must be according to the orders of the
"king" (Cortesao,
2015).
Tome
Pires, on the other hand, described the hyang as the king was a talented
athlete and hunter. In his land there were innumerable stags, pigs and bulls,
They often spent time hunting.
In local
beliefs, the stories of kings are revered because in the process of the final
phase of life they leave materialism behind and move towards divinity. To reach
that path, they usually live back to nature, abstaining from all forms of
pleasure.
This is
why as the inscription "sang hyang tapak" earlier, the area became an
area prohibited from hunting.
When
Pires described the power structure in the Sundanese Kingdom, the manuscript of
Bujangga Manik included "Mangkubumi bakti di ratu, Ratu bakti di dewata,
dewata submits to Hyang" which means that the Port rulers or city kings or
treasurers or mangkubumi, are subject to the ruler or called the king of nature
or called Prabu, and the king of nature submits to Sang Hyang, the spiritual
who works under the guidance of God.
With
this, the land area is essentially divided into three areas, the opean area,
namely the Port, the area where the local ruler holds power called Dayeuh and
then the sacred area, which is not allowed to carry out commercialism, purely
only for worship activities.
With this
divine leadership, Sundanese trade was carried out.� Tome Pires described the Sunda Kingdom as being
ruled justly by sincere people.
C. The Royal Capital and description
of the Capital
��������� In the 16th century, Pires described the
large Dayeuh (Dayo) City as the place where the king lived. In general,
according to Sundanese oral tradition, the king of Sunda always had a
hermitage, living in the mountains and in caves. Pires' description differs
from the beliefs of the Sundanese people (Pires &
Rodrigues, 1990).
The
Kebantenan inscription, which is thought to be contemporary with Tome Pires'
manuscript (1482-1521), contains text inscriptions including "Oṁ
Avighnam as-tu, nihan- sakakala ra-hyaṁ niskala vas-tu ○ ka�cana
pun-, down- ka ra-hyaṁ niṁrat- ka�cana, ma○kaṅuni ka
susuhunan-ayə-na ḍi pakuan- pajajaran- pun-, mulaḥ mo
mihape" (Gunawan & Griffiths, 2021).
Expresses
that the one who is in the pakuan pajajaran is "Susuhunan". The one
in Pakuan is "Susuhunan".
Susuhunan
rules over Pakuan, and while there are other cities, none is as large as Dayo.
This large city has well-built houses using coconut leaves and wood. This house
was built in a row, which is why it was called "pajajaran" People
said that the King had a very nice house, built using 330 wooden pillars as
thick as wine barrels, 5 fathoms high and decorated with very beautiful
carvings on the top.
To reach
the town of Dayeuh, it took two days from the main port called Sunda Kelapa
(Calapa). Current
research suggests that Buitenzorg (Bogor) was the capital of Dayeuh Sunda
because of the foundations of the palace, as well as many stone ruins and
inscriptions (Adam, 2020).
D. The harbor of the Sundanese Kingdom
To be able
to trade more in the 16th century era, where sea and river transportation is
the main means, of course the Sunda Kingdom must have a port. The more ports
that are managed, it shows the ability of a country to prosper each region of
its society.
In the 16th
century, the Sunda Kingdom had several ports. The ports under the Sunda Kingdom
are: Banten Port (Bantam), Pontang Port (Pomdam), Ciaede Port (Cheguide),
Tangerang Port (Tamgaram), Sunda Kelapa Port (Calapa), Cimanuk Port (Chemano) (Pires & Rodrigues, 1990).
1.
Sunda
Harbor: Banten (Bantam)
The first
port is called Banten. Jung-jung docked at this port, which was a trading port.
There was a nice town near the river. The town was led by the captain, a very
important figure. Banten Harbor can be said to be an international harbor where
trade is conducted with the Maldives Islands and with the Fansur region of
Sumatra Island, among others. The river that flows in this area ends in the
ocean.
2.
Pontang
Port (Pomdag)
The
second port in the Sunda Kingdom was called Pontang, which was on the way to Jepara
and smaller than Bantam. It had a good town. People who traded with Bantam also
traded with Pontang. The harbor was located near a river that led to the ocean.
It is rumored that junks docked at this port, which is said to be a trading
port.
3.
Cigede/Cisadane
Port (Chegujde)
The third
port, located in the direction already mentioned, is called Cigede. In this
harbor there was also a good town, where the previously mentioned Jung-jung
docked. There is a very important captain here.
4.
Tangerang
Port (Tamgara)- Muara Angke
The
fourth port is called Tangerang. It is the same as the other ports mentioned
above, with a nice city and trade. It has a captain and is a trading place like
the three ports above.
5.
Sunda
Kelapa Harbor (Calapa)
Sunda
Kelapa Harbor is an amazing harbor and the most important among other harbors.
The journey to Sunda Kelapa Harbor took two days from Dayo City (Pakuan
Pajajaran) where the King always stayed. Therefore, this port is considered as
the most important one.
This port
was almost merged with the Land of Java, but Cimanuk separated them. The
journey from Cimanuk to this port took a day and a night with good winds. Trade
commodities from all over the kingdom were brought to this port. It was
well-run: with judges, courts and clerks. It is rumored that (the) regulations
in this city have been (put) in writing, (for example) a person who commits act
A will be subject to B and so on according to the laws of the kingdom. Many
junks docked at this port.
6.
Cimanuk
Port (Chemano)
Cimanuk
Harbor is the sixth harbor. This harbor is not a place for junks to dock, but
only a port post, so the people are told, some "agree." Many Moors
live here. The captain is a pagan. This harbor is under the rule of the King of
Sunda. The boundary of the kingdom was at this place. Cimanuk carried on a good
trade, with which Java also traded. This port has a large and good city,
7.
Trade
of the Sunda Kingdom
Trade is
not new to the people in Sunda, besides the old age of the Kingdom, the
Sundanese Kingdom is also accustomed to trade (Pires &
Rodrigues, 1990). The countries that have had
continuous trade relations include Malacca. Sundanese people often went to
Malacca to trade. The Malacca Kingdom, regularly sent its ships to the Sunda
Kingdom to trade.
Both the
Pires Records and the Bujangga Manik Manuscript, record that Malacca Ships like
to trade also to Sunda.
In
addition, these were the Sunda kingdom's trading partners from other kingdoms
a.�� From the Port of Banten: This port conducted
trade activities with the Maldives Islands and with the Barus/Fansur region on
Sumatra Island (Pires & Rodrigues, 1990). Meanwhile, archaeological evidence in
Banten also shows that China or Chinese have been cooperating with Sunda
through Banten Port since the 9th-10th centuries. Guillot said that in his
excavation, of all the ceramics found, most of them were from China, originated
in China, especially South China; the oldest date from the 9th-10th centuries,
but the bulk date from the 13th-14th centuries (Guillot et al., 1997).
Long before the 16th century, in
the Chinese sailing manual Shun Jeng Xiangsong, compiled in approximately 1500
(Ii hat Mills 1979). Banten is named "Wan-tan" and
"Shun-t'a" as the destination or departure point of various major
shipping routes: Aur-Banten Island. Aceh-Banten.
Banten-Banjarrnasin.Banten-Demak. Banten-Timor (Guillot et al., 1997).
Then also at the end of the 15th
century, Sulaiman b. Ahmad al-Mahri in Umdat a/-1\Jahriyahfi Dabt al- 'U/um
al-Najmiyah recognized the Sundanese port at the western end of Java near
"Djebel Sunda", meaning Mount Gede to the west of Banten Bay (West, 2021).
this
shows that the international port of Sunda was open in the Banten region.
b.�� The port of Cisadane (cigede): also traded in
this place, for example Pariaman, Andalas, Tulang Bawang, Sekampung and other
places.�
c.�� Sunda Kelapa port: This is where the biggest
trade was carried out, where people came from Sumatra, Palembang, Laue,
Tanjungpura (Tamjompura), Malacca, Makassar, Java, Madura and many more. These
nations also conducted trade in other ports.
������ The trade relationship between Sunda and
Minangkabau is a very old one, where the Ports used from Sunda are Banten,
Cisadane and from Minangkabau are Pariaman and Barus. One of Pires' notes that
stands out is that the Sundanese had 4,000 horses imported from Pariaman, the
port of Minangkabau (Pires & Rodrigues, 1990).
8.
Commodities
of Sunda Kingdom
In
conducting trade, of course, commodities are needed, as for the commodities of
the Sunda Kingdom which are of high value besides pepper or pepper, are
commodities that Chinese people like, namely rhino horn. Rhinos are found in
large numbers in the southern part of the Banten region (Guillot et al., 1997).
������ While the low-value commodity is
tamarind. The tamarind plant is widely found in the Malabar country. Tamarind
and Bima Islands are also recorded this plant in very large quantities. It is a
good merchandise in Sunda (Winstedt, 1947).
There are
also other commodities from each port as follows:
a.�� From the port of Banten: This region stored
large quantities of rice, foodstuffs and pepper.
b.�� From Pontang Port: . This place has rice,
foodstuffs and peppercorns.
c.�� From cigede Port: This place too - produces
rice, vegetables, pepper and many foodstuffs.
d.�� From Tangerang Port: Tangerang also produces
goods that other ports have.
9.
Trading
ships
������ The Sunda Kingdom not only had a harbor,
but also had its own ships with more than 6 types of junks and typical
Sundanese lancharas which had "peacock" shaped masts and steps
between each ship making it easy to steer (Winstedt, 1947). In trade, Sundanese people would board
cargo lancharas, ships of 150 tons (Pires & Rodrigues, 1990).
10.
Sundanese
Characters Supporting Trade and the Language Spoken
������ No trade can succeed without honesty. This
is why Tome Pires, wrote that Sundanese society is famous for its honesty. It
was only with this value of honesty that international traders would come to
trade.
������ The Sundanese were also praised by Pires
as competitive, able to compete, including at the time being said to be able to
compete with the Javanese. Not only that, Sundanese people are also known as
seafaring warriors (Winstedt, 1947). Sundanese people are good people. Although
the Sundanese and Javanese kingdoms are only separated by a river, the language
spoken in Sunda is not Javanese, nor do people in Java use Sundanese (Winstedt, 1947).
11.
Harmonious
Sundanese and Javanese trade and the issue of the bubat war
In
general, trade relations facilitate peace between countries. All parties
understand that war means cost, with war it means that there will be no
development, there will be no progress of civilization. economic relations have
a great influence on whether or not the adjoining countries are involved in the
war.
Military
disputes, but not wars. According to research, rather than inhibiting conflict,
extensive economic interdependence increases the likelihood of both parties
engaging in military interstate disputes. Peace through trade is more likely to
emerge between pairs of interdependent trading partners. However, the
relationship between interdependence and conflict appears to be curvilinear,
with low to moderate levels of interdependence reducing the likelihood of
disputes and extensive economic ties increasing the likelihood of military
disputes. Extreme interdependence, whether symmetrical or asymmetrical, has the
greatest potential to increase the likelihood of conflict (Barbieri, 1996).
In the
16th century, Pires described the relationship between the Sundanese and
Javanese The people of Sundanese and Javanese are neither friends nor enemies.
They keep themselves to themselves. They trade with one another, and also if
they meet on the sea as pirates, whoever is better prepared attacks, and so
they use here, but great the friendship or relationship between them. They
traded with each other (Winstedt, 1947).�
Pires, in
his book, describes many wars that have occurred in the past, but he did not
see any war between Sunda and Java. Sunda and Java were in reality
interdependent, because they were on the same shipping route and in the same
wind. If there was a war between Sunda and Java, then automatically the
Javanese boats could no longer sail towards Sumatra, or vice versa from Sunda
towards Bali.
The route
from Tuban to Banten was a common route for a long time, although we cannot say
that the dependency was symmetrical, rather it was complementary. Sunda and
Java have relatively similar natural resources, but with different mountain
typologies. Pires noted the large production of gold in Java, while the
Sundanese excelled in the expensive commodity of pepper.
This
harmony between Sunda and Java in trade relations is also recognized by the
absence of Chinese records that explain the existence of a major war between
Sunda and Java (Liang, 2012).�
According to archaeologist Hassan Djafar, of the 30 Sunda Kingdom
inscriptions and 50 Majapahit Kingdom inscriptions there is no mention of the
Bubat War, the source of the Sunda and Javanese dispute story only comes from
manuscripts.� This dispute appears in the
Bubat War which is alluded to in one of the pupuhs of Pararaton, a Javanese
chronicle from the 15th century. The identity of the author of the Pararaton is
unknown. The Pararaton is organized as an account of events that took place
around 1474-1486, while the literary part is organized as a historical
description between 1500-1613. The manuscript was first published in 1896 by
J.L.A. Brandes.
The
manuscript copy of Desawarnana, widely known as Nagarakretagama, describes a Bubat
square located in the northern area of Trowulan, the capital of Majapahit,
probably in the vicinity of Wringin Lawang gate or Brahu temple. But in this
copy of the Desawarnana, which is so long on Javanese history, there is no news
of a conflict between Sunda and Java.
Another
manuscript about the Bubat war is Kidung Sunda, published in the early 20th
century by CC Berg, a Dutch historian. CC Berg found this manuscript in Bali.
Thus, Tome Pires' account in Suma Oriental correctly and logically describes
the relationship between Sunda and Java as one without warfare.
Pires'
article, also about "Bubat", is not in the sense of war. Pires
described the ruler of Surabaya, or the tip of Galuh where he came as
"patih bubat". Who is patih bubat? Patih Bubat was the ruler of
Surabaya. His opponent, Guste Pate of Balmbangan, gave Patih Bubat as the juru
Palagan ing Terung. (Jurupa Galacam Imteram) Pires translated this phrase to
mean "Outstanding Captain".
Patih
bubat was a great warrior and ruler. He was more respected in matters of
defense than anyone else who lived along the coast, whether Javanese or
Muslim.Pires reveals that all Javanese relied on him, his personality and his
advice. He ruled over a vast country, often at war with Guste Pate, but
sometimes he and Gusti Pate were friends. He had many war calaluze boats in the
ocean,
Patih
Bubat was a warrior brother of the ruler of Gresik. Pires heard that his
grandfather was a subordinate or patih who worked for Guste Pate's grandfather.
In addition, some other people explained the origin of Patih Bubat's
grandfather came from Sunda.
Pires
appreciated patih bubat, with his high reputation, surely wherever patih bubat
came from, he was still someone who was highly respected. He had at least
6,000-7,000 warriors in his country.
What was
unique about Patih Bubat as a Sundanese and Muslim descendant, he only worked
continuously at war and did nothing else.�
All his neighboring countries in Java received advice and help from him.
He had a close relationship with the pate of the Muslims. Pate Bubat was
therefore highly respected because he always fought continuously (Wink, 2004).
In the
description of the Sundanese manuscripts, the only Sundanese person, who
continuously fought and was never defeated and never saw his own blood, and was
a Muslim was only one character, known as "Kian Santang". At the end
of Galuh, the description of this figure is known as Patih Bubat, or more
precisely what is meant by Juru Palagan ing Terung in language, juru is a
clever person who gets his abilities with extensive training, Palagan means war
or battle. Ing terung means in the Terung region, which is now in East Java.
Therefore, this figure in the Majapait region is also known as the Duke of
Terung.
Instead
in Galuh, this figure is known as Kian Santang and in Cirebon is known as
CakraBuana.
12.
16th
century European and Asian trade struggles and the beginning of colonization.
Trade
relations between Asian countries were intensive and had been going on for a
very long time. The relationship between Sunda and China, for example through
the Port of Banten, has been going on for a very long time. Pepper in the
Sundarbans may have been exchanged for Chinese ceramics as early as the 10th
century, intensifying from the 12th to the 16th century.
Chinese
ships routinely went to Banten Harbor, picking up pepper and other goods.� Chinese exchanges with Banten Girang were
intensive and never ceased, except perhaps in the 15th century. Throughout the
16th century, until the early 17th century, Chinese junks visited Banten
regularly in search of Jada.
When the
Europeans began their quest for spices in Asia, they tried hard to gain control
of all spices, including Sundanese pepper. Apart from Pasai, Sundanese pepper
was a commodity that was sought after and needed.
In 1527,
the Portuguese tried to acquire the Sundanese Royal Ports of Sunda Kelapa and
Banten under the pretext of cooperation, but in reality, violent occupation
efforts were tried with all their might.
Entering
the 17th century, the Dutch succeeded in controlling all Sunda Ports starting
with the control of Sunda Kelapa which had been renamed Jayakarta. The Dutch
then monopolized the pepper trade so that China could no longer trade with
Sunda.
The
position of the inter-Asian trade that had involved India as a carrier of
cloth, then, the Sunda producing rice and spices, then China producing kemarik,
was disrupted. All these commodities could not be brought back. The only people
who could carry and sell all these commodities were Europeans (Claude et al., 1996).
When the
Dutch took over Sunda Kelapa, which had been renamed Jayakarta, it
automatically meant that the most important port of the Sunda Kingdom had been
taken and closed by the Dutch. Likewise, since the international port of the
Kingdom of Sunda was taken, practically all trade in the Sundarbans and later
even the whole of Java was under the control and in full control of the Dutch
interests.
The Dutch
covered up all these traces by providing a colonial apology that from the
beginning the local ruling population had often fought and killed each other
over trivial matters, such as women, feeling offended and also mystical
reasons. The Sundanese trade trail has since been erased and never reopened.
CONCLUSION
The conclusions of this short
research reveal that in the 16th century, the Sunda Kingdom operated as an
authoritative realm with a well-defined power structure, territorial control,
and an organized system for managing the kingdom, all guided by divine
principles. Furthermore, the Sunda Kingdom maintained a significant capital
integrated into international trade affairs, boasting a diverse range of trade
commodities and a robust logistical supply chain consisting of ports, ships,
and import-export networks. This kingdom also demonstrated a careful balance between
upholding divine, natural, and human relationships. However, it is evident that
the Sunda Kingdom's trade prowess was systematically downplayed and obscured in
favor of mystical narratives, leading to disputes with neighboring regions such
as Java and Banten, which were, in reality, part of Dutch colonial tactics
employed through Devide et Impera politics.
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