Majapahit's Hidden Port: The Mystery of Tuban

Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History · Sep 1, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While Trowulan serves as the ceremonial heart of the Majapahit Empire, the true engine of its wealth flowed through the coastal city of Tuban. In this episode, we leave the inland capital to explore the bustling harbor that connected Java to the wider Indian Ocean trade network. Lucas and Luna examine how Tuban’s strategic position on the Bengawan Solo river allowed it to become a critical hub for the pepper and sandalwood trades long before the rise of Malacca. We look at the archaeological evidence found in the region, including Chinese porcelain shards and local kiln sites, which reveal a…