Transcribed
The Kadatuan: How Srivijaya's Mandala Politics Actually Worked — Fexingo History
Apr 28, 2026 ·
6m 35s
Download and listen anywhere
Download your favorite episodes and enjoy them, wherever you are! Sign up or log in now to access offline listening.
The Kadatuan: How Srivijaya's Mandala Politics Actually Worked — Fexingo History
This automatic transcript is brought to you by
Sounder.AI
This is an automatically generated transcript. Please note that complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Description
Srivijaya is often called an empire, but it was really a mandala: a fluid network of tributary port-kingdoms bound by oaths, trade, and shared Buddhism. This episode unpacks the term...
show more
Srivijaya is often called an empire, but it was really a mandala: a fluid network of tributary port-kingdoms bound by oaths, trade, and shared Buddhism. This episode unpacks the term kadatuan (the ruler's domain) and how Srivijayan kings like Balaputradewa and Dharmasetu maintained control without a standing army or fixed borders. We discuss the role of the datu (local chieftains), the swearing of oaths with sacred water, and the 7th-century Telaga Batu inscription, which lists curses against rebels. Lucas and Luna explore how this decentralized structure allowed Srivijaya to dominate the Strait of Malacca for centuries—and why it ultimately made the empire vulnerable to defection. Drawing on epigraphic evidence and recent scholarship, we challenge the idea of Srivijaya as a centralized state.
#Srivijaya #Mandala #Kadatuan #TelagaBatu #Balaputradewa #Dharmasetu #Datu #Oath #SoutheastAsia #MaritimeEmpire #Palembang #StraitOfMalacca #Epigraphy #SrivijayanPolitics #Decentralization #BuddhistKingship #FexingoHistory #History #SrivijayaEmpire #SoutheastAsianHistory
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-srivijaya-empire-southeast-asia-s-forgotten-maritime-superpower-fexingo-history--6985265/support.
show less
#Srivijaya #Mandala #Kadatuan #TelagaBatu #Balaputradewa #Dharmasetu #Datu #Oath #SoutheastAsia #MaritimeEmpire #Palembang #StraitOfMalacca #Epigraphy #SrivijayanPolitics #Decentralization #BuddhistKingship #FexingoHistory #History #SrivijayaEmpire #SoutheastAsianHistory
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-srivijaya-empire-southeast-asia-s-forgotten-maritime-superpower-fexingo-history--6985265/support.
Information
| Author | Fexingo |
| Organization | Fexingo |
| Website | - |
| Tags |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
Comments