SUMATERA

Sumatra is an island located in the westernmost part of the Indonesian archipelago and is the second largest island in Indonesia after Kalimantan and the sixth largest island in the world. Since the 9th century, this island has been visited and written by foreign travelers related to human society and the natural resources in it. In addition, this island has opened the veil of Indonesian history with the discovery of historical artifacts in the form of temples such as in Palembang, Jambi, Minangkabau and in North Sumatra. In addition, the first political entity found in Indonesia, was on the island of Sumatra called Sriwijaya since the 7th century AD. This is a sign that Sumatra has a very valuable past nuance and has influenced the history of the archipelago. This situation has made scholars interested in researching the past of this island from various perspectives and disciplines.

world of international travel. As a kind of barricade facing maritime entry points to eastern Asia, Sumatra was the first landing place in the shipping sector. Gold from its mountain ranges, and camphor from its forests, attracted traders from all over the world to the magnet of Suvarna-dvipa, the ‘land of gold’. Therefore, some of the oldest traces of Indian, Persian, Arab and Chinese influence in Southeast Asia can be found in Sumatra. Because of the natural wealth that Sumatra has, especially gold and camphor, it has become a special attraction for foreign traders to stop and trade in this region. That is why, written history about this region is very much found, especially those made by international traders and explorers between the worlds.