Origins and Geography of Majapahit
📌 The Austronesian people, skilled sailors, settled in Java about 3,500 years ago, drawn by its highly fertile land due to eighteen active volcanoes.
🌊 Java's location served as the gateway to the Strait of Malacca, a crucial part of the maritime Silk Road connecting China with ancient civilizations in India, Persia, and Arabia.
🌶️ From the 1st century CE, spices from Indonesia traveled as far as the Roman Empire, primarily distributed by Javanese rulers.
🏛️ Early Javanese kingdoms adopted Hinduism and Buddhism through contact with India, eventually calling their rulers Devaraja (God-King), leading to monuments like Prambanan and Borobudur.

The Founding and Early Conflicts of Majapahit
⚔️ The Singhasari Kingdom reached its peak under Kertanegara, who defied the Mongol emissary Meng Chi by refusing tribute, provoking a massive Mongol invasion fleet of 1,000 ships and 20,000 men.
🔄 Jayakatwang, Duke of Kediri (part of Singhasari), rebelled while Kertanegara was campaigning, leading to the king's death and Singhasari's collapse.
🤝 Raden Wijaya allied with the Mongols to defeat Jayakatwang, then cunningly turned against the Mongol forces, driving them out using asymmetrical warfare in the jungles.
👑 Raden Wijaya crowned himself the first King of Majapahit with the title Kertarajasa Jayawardhana, consolidating power despite early internal strife involving Ranggalawe and Mahapati.

Succession Crises and Stabilization
😟 Jayanegara’s reign was marked by instability, including the Nambi rebellion (due to Jayanegara’s disputed lineage) and the assassination attempt by Ra Kuti, which was thwarted by Gajah Mada.
🔪 Jayanegara was ultimately assassinated by Tanca, a member of the Dharmaputra troops, in revenge for his wife being seduced by the King; Gajah Mada killed Tanca in retaliation.
👸 Following Jayanegara’s death without heirs, his elder sister, Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, ascended the throne, restoring confidence among officials.
🏝️ Supported by Gajah Mada, Tribhuwana launched major expansions, conquering Bali and other Nusantara kingdoms starting in 1343, leading Majapahit toward its golden age.

The Golden Age under Hayam Wuruk
✨ Under Hayam Wuruk (Sri Rajasanagara) and Mahapatih Gajah Mada, Majapahit reached its zenith, marked by the grand Srada Ceremony honoring Gayatri.
🗺️ The territory under Hayam Wuruk was vast, encompassing Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua, Tumasik (Singapore), and parts of the Philippines, as documented in the *Kakawin Nagarakretagama*.
💰 Majapahit was a rich agrarian and semi-commercial power, exporting commodities like rice, pepper, ivory, tin, cloves, and sandalwood, establishing strong regional trade networks.
⚓ The military strength relied on the elite Bhayangkara force (1 quality soldier equaling 40 ordinary soldiers) and a strong navy utilizing the jong warship, which could match contemporary European vessels.

Socio-Economic Structure and Philosophy
⚖️ Majapahit possessed a dynamic economy supported by smooth inter-kingdom trade and the use of metal currency for standardized transactions.
🤝 The core social philosophy was "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Tan Hana Dharma Mangrwa" ("Different yet One, there is no duality in truth"), fostering harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism.
🌍 The capital, Trowulan, was a cosmopolitan hub with merchants from China, Bengal, Gujarat, and Persia, highlighting an inclusive social structure that contrasted agrarian inland areas with open coastal regions.
🚢 Majapahit was recognized as a global power, controlling the fertile rice fields of Java, the vital Malacca shipping lanes, and the spice islands, boasting a professional standing army of 30,000 that could swell to 200,000 with vassal contributions.

Decline and Legacy
📉 After Hayam Wuruk’s death, Parameswara of Singapore (a client state) broke vassalage; Majapahit's response led to Parameswara fleeing and later establishing the Malacca Sultanate with Chinese backing.
⚔️ Internal conflict, specifically the Paregreg War between Wirabhumi and Wikramawardhana, depleted resources and weakened control over vassal territories.
🕌 The rise of the Malacca Sultanate as the dominant trade center and the increasing influence of Islam in North Javanese port cities (aided by Admiral Cheng Ho's Ming expeditions) diminished Majapahit's regional power.
🚪 The collapse of the Majapahit capital resulted in power shifting from Hindu to Islamic rule, exemplified by the rise of the Demak Sultanate, though Hindu-Buddhist traditions continued in eastern regions like Bali.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The foundation of Indonesia's modern borders is attributed to the historical reach of the Majapahit Empire.
➡️ The longevity and success of Majapahit relied heavily on the principles of tolerance and integration, exemplified by the *Bhinneka Tunggal Ika* philosophy.
➡️ Early Majapahit history demonstrates that political acumen and strategic alliances, even deceptive ones (like Raden Wijaya's against the Mongols), were crucial for survival and rise to power.
➡️ Instability caused by succession crises and internal conflict (like the Paregreg War) directly contributed to the empire's eventual decline and loss of vassal territories.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 08, 2025, 13:12 UTC