Islam And Indianization In Southeast Asia
1543 Words7 Pages
The spread of Islam had been exceptional since widespread conversion in Southeast Asia started in the 13th century. As Islam continues to grow in present times, it potentially holds great political power over unlimited territory; Islam may eventually hold vast power over our society. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the use of Islam as a political tool and the use of politics in Islam using Indonesia as a key reference.
As the process of Indianisation was concluded with the coming of Islam, the cultural heritage of Hinduism is reduced, and eventually, Hinduism will become heritage. Even in modern times, Islamisation is still on the rise. Due to the power Islam potentially holds, it is important to understand the relationship between Islam and politics. As Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim population in the world, it would be suitable for use as a key example.
In the case of Indonesia, the introduction of Islam can be divided into three phases; from 622 to 1100, as a product of commercial contact with maritime regions of the Indian Ocean through trade that dates back to before the Islamic period; from 1100 to 1500, where the widespread of Islam was focused more on the spiritual belief rather than rituals. In the last phase, which extends from 1500 to current times, Islam continues to influence the culture and literature in Indonesia.
Islam As A Product Of Commercial Trade
In economic terms, conversion resulted in increased economic trade and higher state of