MAJAPAHIT EMPIRE

Aside from the previously-mentioned “Srivijaya Empire”, there is another

notable Indonesian empire which also had a greater contribution in the rich history of the
said country and this is what is being called as “Majapahit Empire”. The name itself was
coined by Raden Wijaya in the year 1293 from the words “maja” and “pahit”. The former
is a fruit name of the locality while the latter means bitter.
Majapahit Empire was an Indianized kingdom which was located in Java from the
year 1293 to 1500. Its founder was Vijaya, a prince of Singharasi, who escaped when
Jayakatwang, ruler of Kadiri seized the palace but the greatest ruler was Hayam Wuruk
who reigned from 1350 to 1389. This is the period wherein the kingdom reached its peak
in a sense that it has attained more victories through the help of his prime minister, Gajah
Mada, who commanded a destructive naval attack at Palembang in 1377. This has led
into the end of the previously-discussed Srivijayan Empire because as what we had
mentioned before, the capital of the empire was based on Palembang. That’s why, and
after being attacked, Srivijayan Empire ended and in contrary, it has given more success
and legacy to the powerful Majapahit Empire. As opposed to the previous kingdom,
Majapahit Empire, it focused and gave emphasis on commercial and artistic activities
rather than international sea trade. It includes rice cultivation and trade which had
supported industries and profession. Therefore, this empire gave due importance on land
trading. Furthermore, Majapahit had extended its significant power in the region. Thus, it
had always sought regular relations with China, Champa, Cambodia, Annam, and Siam
of Thailand in order to maintain peace and mutual understanding with other kingdoms.
We always knew that time will come that the glorious splendor of a certain kingdom will
always come to an end and this is what was happened also to this empire when the
spread of Islam and the rise of Islamic states came to be dominant in the late 15th or early
1th century.
Generally, every kingdom of the ancient world had its own identity of uniqueness
which made it as exceptional or different from other empires. The same as what is given
by this empire. It has been mentioned that rice cultivation is valued. It’s not being indicated
when and how this practice is being originated but we can imagine the beauty of the
development of agriculture, trade, and commerce which had flourished in their time.