The Map of Ethnic groups in Indonesia (Courtesy of Wikipedia).
Indonesia is a vast archipelago in the Southeast Asia, consisting of more than 17,000 islands and home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages. But before it became an independent nation in 1945, it was known by a different name: the Dutch East Indies.
The name Dutch East Indies (or Netherlands East Indies) was given by the European colonizers who ruled over the region for more than three centuries, from the 17th to the 20th century. The name reflected their economic interests in the lucrative spice trade, as well as their political and cultural domination over the native peoples.
However, the name Dutch East Indies was not the only one used to refer to the area that is now Indonesia. In fact, there were many other names, both local and foreign, that were used throughout history to describe parts or all of the archipelago.
Some of the earliest names were derived from ancient Indian and Greek sources, such as Yavadvipa (Island of Barley) and Suvarnadvipa (Golden Island), which were used to designate Java and Sumatra respectively. These names reflected the richness and diversity of the natural resources and cultures of the islands.
Another name that was widely used by Arab and Muslim traders and travelers was Jawi, which meant “the land of Java” or “the land of Islam”. This name indicated the importance of Java as a center of trade and Islamic civilization in the Southeast Asia, as well as the spread of Islam among the various islands.
In addition, there were also names that were based on local languages and traditions, such as Nusantara, which meant “archipelago” or “outer islands”. This name was popularized by the 14th-century Javanese ruler Gajah Mada, who vowed to unify all the islands under his control. The name Nusantara is still used today as a synonym for Indonesia, especially in nationalist contexts.
The name Indonesia itself was coined in the 19th century by a German geographer named Johann Ludwig Krapf, who combined the Greek words indos (India) and nesos (island) to form a new term that meant “Indian islands”. The name was later adopted by Indonesian nationalists who sought to create a common identity for all the peoples of the archipelago, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or linguistic differences.
The name Indonesia became official in 1945, when the country proclaimed its independence from the Dutch colonial rule. Since then, Indonesia has become one of the most populous and diverse countries in the World, with a rich and complex history that is reflected in its many names.
Source : https://www.bing.com
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