The Sabah Sultanate: Srivijaya's Northern Domain

The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History · Jul 9, 2026 · 8m · transcript

This episode explores Srivijaya's northern sphere of influence, focusing on the Sabah region of northern Borneo. While Palembang dominated the south, Sabah was a crucial source of gold and forest products, and home to a powerful local sultanate that emerged in the 15th-16th centuries. We examine the archaeological evidence from the Bukit Tengkorak site, the role of the Sultanate of Sulu, and the later claims by the Philippines to Sabah. Lucas and Luna discuss the complexities of pre-colonial Southeast Asian polities, the shifting borders of influence, and how modern territorial disputes…