The Impact of Arab “Eastern Maritime Trade” from the 7th to the 15th Century on the Southeast Asian Archipelagic Region

Abstract

From the 7th to the 15th century, Arab seafarers navigated extensively and were active in the major ports of the Indian Ocean, gradually emerging as one of the principal forces in maritime commerce across the region. They established a vast trading network that stretched westward to the Iberian Peninsula and East Africa, and eastward to the coasts of China. Particularly noteworthy was the maritime route linking the Arabian Peninsula with China. The Southeast Asian archipelagic region, as a crucial segment of this voyage, was profoundly affected.

In this historical process, Arab trade exerted three core influences on Southeast Asia. Politically, the prosperity of long-distance commerce facilitated the formation and development of centralized states. Economically, the trade network incorporated Southeast Asia into the broader global economic system. Socio-culturally, Arab merchants—acting as transmitters of Islam—contributed to the widespread dissemination of Islam along the coastal areas of Southeast Asia, laying the foundation for the modern Islamic cultural sphere in the region. By systematically examining the development trajectory and mechanisms of Arab trade in Southeast Asia, this study highlights the decisive role of external commercial forces in regional historical evolution and provides an important historical perspective for understanding premodern cross-cultural interactions and early globalization.