Latest / The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History
Srivijaya's Maritime Pirates and the Chola Raid
We often think of Srivijaya as a peaceful Buddhist hub, but its power relied on controlling the Strait of Malacca through both diplomacy and force. This episode explores the darker side of this maritime empire: the Orang Laut, or Sea Gypsies, who served as its naval enforcement arm. While they protected trade routes from rival pirates, they were also accused by Chinese merchants of extorting goods from passing ships. We examine how this dual nature of protection and predation shaped regional politics, leading to the devastating naval expedition launched by the Chola Empire under Rajendra…
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