Srivijaya's River Cities and the Mud of Palembang

The Srivijaya Empire: Southeast Asia's Forgotten Maritime Superpower — Fexingo History · Sep 17, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While previous episodes explored Srivijaya’s maritime networks and diplomatic ties to Nalanda, this episode investigates the physical reality of its capital, Palembang. We look at how the city functioned as a riverine metropolis built on bamboo and wood, defying the expectations of stone cities. Lucas traces the archaeological evidence from the Musi River banks, discussing the Telaga Batu inscription and the unique hydraulic engineering that allowed a floating market to thrive in the humid tropics. Luna asks about the daily life of merchants and monks who navigated these waterways, leading to…