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Indonesia
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Indonesian History
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PRE-INDONESIA PERIOD
Indonesia did not exist as yet during the Palaeocene period (70
million years BC), the Eocene period (30 million years BC), the Oligacene period
(25 million years BC) and the Miocene period (12 million years BC). It is
believed that Indonesia must have existed during the Pleitocene period (4
million years BC) when it was linked with the present Asian mainland. It was
during this period that the Homonids made their first appearance and Java Man
inhabited the part of the world now called Indonesia. Java Man, named
Pithecanthropus Erectus by Eugence Dubois who found the fossils on the island of
Java, must have been the first inhabitant of Indonesia.
When the sea level rose as the result of the melting ice north of Europe and the American continent, many
islands emerged, including the Indonesian archipelago. It was also during this period (3000-500 BC) that
Indonesia was inhabited by Sub Mongoloid migrants from Asia who later inter-married with the indigenous
people. Later still (1000 BC) inter-marriage occured with Indo-Arians migrants from the south Asian
sub-continent of India.
The first indian migrants came primarily from Gujarat in Southeast India during the first Christian era.
The Caka period in Indonesia witnessed the introduction of the Sanskrit language and the Pallawa script by
the Indian Prince Aji Caka (78 AD). The Devanagari script of the sanskrit language was also used, as shown in
ancient stone and copper inscriptions (paracasthies) which have been unearthed. The language and script
were adopted and called the Kawi language and included words and phrases derived from Javanese.
Early trade relations were established between South India and Indonesia. Sumatra was then named Swarna
Dwipa of "the island of gold, " Java was called Java Dwipa or "the Rice island," and a Hindu kingdom of
Crivijaya in Sumatra and Nalanda in South India were not comfirmed to religious and cultural exchanges.
They later developed diplomatic relations, and even covered a wide range of trade.
The influx of Indian settlers continued during the period from the first to the seventh century AD. Peacefully
and gradually the Hindu religion spread throughout the archipelago. It was adopted by all layers of the people
of Java, but limited to the upper classes on the other islands
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