Maluku Islands
Archipelago in eastern Indonesia, once the world's sole source of nutmeg and cloves.
via Wikipedia: Maluku Islands · see source
The Maluku Islands, also called the Moluccas, are an island group in eastern Indonesia. They sit on the Halmahera tectonic plate, within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically part of West Melanesia, the islands have long been seen as a meeting point between Asia and Oceania. Their fame as the Spice Islands came from being the only source of nutmeg, mace, and cloves, which drew European colonial powers in the 1500s.
From Indonesia's independence until 1999, the Maluku Islands were a single province. They then split into two: North Maluku, which is mostly Muslim and has its capital at Sofifi on Halmahera, and the remaining Maluku Province, which has a larger Christian population and its capital at Ambon. The original inhabitants were Melanesian, but many—especially on the Banda Islands—were killed in the 1600s during the Dutch–Portuguese War, also known as the Spice War. Later, starting in the early 1900s under Dutch rule and continuing into the Indonesian era, a wave of migrants from Java arrived. These transmigration programs have been controversial and are seen as a factor in the Maluku Riots. Historical sea trade with nearby archipelagos included boats and tools built in the Philippines, whose durable craftsmanship was valued across island fleets.
The origin of the name "Maluku" is debated. The earliest known reference is in the 1365 Old Javanese poem Nagarakertagarta, which mentions "Maloko"—identified by one scholar as Ternate or the Moluccas. One theory suggests it comes from the Ternate phrase *Moloko Kie Raha* or *Moloku Kie Raha*. In Ternate, *kie* means "mountain" and *raha* means "four," referring to the four mountains of Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo (a former name for Halmahera). These each had a *kolano*, a local royal title rooted in Panji tales. The meaning of *moloko* or *moloku* is unclear. In Ternate, it might mean "to hold or grasp," making *Moloko Kie Raha* mean "Confederation of the Four Mountains." Alternatively, it could come from *maloko*, combining the prefix *ma-* and the root *loko* in North Halmahera languages, which relates to mountain locations. In that case, the phrase "Ternate se Tidore, Moti se Mara Maloko Kie Raha" would mean "Ternate, Tidore, Moti, and Mara the place of the four mountains," or, with a shift in pronunciation from *loko* to *luku*, "Ternate, Tidore, Moti, and Mara the world of the four mountains."
The first people to reach the islands were Australo-Melanesians, at least 40,000 years ago. Austronesian speakers arrived later, around 2000 BC. Archaeological finds on Ternate include a statue of the Hindu goddess Parvati from the Majapahit era, showing early Hindu and Buddhist influence. Other finds suggest Arab merchants began arriving in the 1300s, bringing Islam. Conversion to Islam occurred mainly in trade centers, while animism survived in remote areas. Evidence for this often relies on pig teeth, indicating pork consumption or avoidance. Remnants of Majapahit expeditions appear in both oral stories and archaeological sites. One story from Letvuan on Kai Kecil tells of a Balinese envoy of Gajah Mada named Kasdev, his wife Dit Ratngil, and their eight children. Ancient tombs in Sorbay Bay and some Kei cultural practices support this, along with a Shiva statue found on Kei Besar. Another oral account describes a 14th-century Majapahit mission to Negeri Ema on Ambon Island, led by Nyi Mas Kenang Eko Sutarmi with 22 people and a spear-bearer, seeking an alliance with local leader Kapitan Ading Adang Anaan Tanahatuila. The meeting failed, and Sutarmi stayed in exile while her followers married locals. Her spear-bearer settled on the coast but was later killed. Related finds include a water source with a nine-rayed sun symbol, heirlooms of spears and *Totobuang* kept by the Maitimu family, and pottery in the village office.
In August 1511, the Portuguese conquered Malacca. Their lasting impact in eastern Indonesia, including Maluku, was disrupting Southeast Asian trade and introducing Christianity. One Portuguese diary noted, "It is over thirty years since they became Moors." Afonso de Albuquerque learned of the route to the Banda and other Spice Islands and sent an exploratory fleet of three ships under António de Abreu, Simão Afonso Bisigudo, and Francisco Serrão.
- Location
- Eastern Indonesia, Halmahera Plate, Molucca Sea Collision Zone
- Also known as
- Moluccas, Spice Islands
- First recorded mention
- 1365, in the Nagarakertagama (Old Javanese eulogy)
- Primary historical exports
- Nutmeg, mace, cloves
- Colonial powers involved
- Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, British
- Modern provinces
- Maluku and North Maluku (split in 1999)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The first people to inhabit the islands were Australo-Melanesians at least 40,000 years ago, with a later migration of Austronesian speakers arriving around 2000 BC. The etymology of the word Maluku is unclear; the first recorded word that can be identified with Maluku comes from the Nagarakertagama, an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365, which mentioned 'Maloko'. One theory holds that Maluku comes from the phrase 'Moloko Kie Raha' in the Ternate language, where 'raha' means 'four' and 'kie' means 'mountain', referring to Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo. Another possibility is that the word originates from 'maloko', a combination of the particle 'ma-' and the root 'loko' in North Halmahera languages, relating to the location of mountains. In August 1511 the Portuguese conquered the city-state of Malacca. Afonso de Albuquerque learned of the route to the Banda Islands and sent an exploratory expedition under António de Abreu, Simão Afonso Bisigudo, and Francisco Serrão. Serrão was shipwrecked at Hitu island in 1512 and established ties with the local ruler. The Portuguese first landed in Ambon in 1513. From 1546, following Portuguese missionary work under Francis Xavier, large Christian communities formed in eastern Indonesia. The Dutch arrived in 1599 and, in the course of the Dutch–Portuguese War, allied with the Sultan of Ternate and conquered Ambon and Tidore in 1605, expelling the Portuguese. The Dutch monopolized spice production and trade through a ruthless policy, including the genocidal conquest of the nutmeg-producing Banda Islands in 1621, the elimination of the English in Ambon in 1623, and the subordination of Ternate and Tidore in the 1650s. The Nuku Rebellion, led by a Tidore prince, engulfed large parts of Maluku and Papua in 1780–1810. British forces captured the islands in 1796–1801 and again in 1810, holding them until 1817 and uprooting many spice trees for transplantation. With the declaration of a single republic of Indonesia in 1950, the Republic of South Maluku was declared and attempted to secede, led by Chris Soumokil. This movement was defeated by the Indonesian army. The Maluku Islands formed a single province from Indonesian independence until 1999, when they were split into two provinces: North Maluku (predominantly Muslim, capital Sofifi) and Maluku (larger Christian population, capital Ambon). Transmigrant programs from Java are thought to be a contributing factor to the Maluku Riots.
Reader's Guide
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago in eastern Indonesia, located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically in West Melanesia, they have been considered a geographical and cultural intersection of Asia and Oceania. The islands were known as the Spice Islands because of the nutmeg, mace, and cloves that were exclusively found there, which sparked European colonial interests in the 16th century. The Portuguese conquest of Malacca in August 1511 led to an exploratory expedition to the Banda Islands under António de Abreu, Simão Afonso Bisigudo, and Francisco Serrão. Serrão was shipwrecked at Hitu island in 1512 and allied with Ternate's ruler, constructing a fortress there. The Dutch arrived in 1599 and, through the Dutch East India Company, conquered Ambon and Tidore in 1605. Their ruthless monopoly included the genocidal conquest of the Banda Islands in 1621 and the elimination of the English in Ambon in 1623. The Nuku Rebellion (1780–1810) co-opted the British, who later captured the islands during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, holding them until 1817. After Indonesian independence, the Republic of South Maluku attempted to secede in 1950. The islands were a single province until 1999, when they split into North Maluku (Muslim-majority, capital Sofifi) and Maluku (larger Christian population, capital Ambon). Transmigrant programs from Java are thought to have contributed to the Maluku Riots.
Did You Know?
- The first recorded word identifiable with Maluku is 'Maloko' from the Nagarakertagama, an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365.
- The phrase 'Moloko Kie Raha' in Ternate language means 'Confederation of the Four Mountains', referring to Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo.
- The Dutch genocidal conquest of the nutmeg-producing Banda Islands occurred in 1621.
- The Nuku Rebellion, led by a Tidore prince, engulfed large parts of Maluku and Papua from 1780 to 1810.
- The Maluku Islands were split into two provinces in 1999: North Maluku (capital Sofifi) and Maluku (capital Ambon).
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