State formation and the evolution of naval strategies in the Melaka Straits, c. 500–1500 CE

Naval strategies in the Melaka Straits from 500 to 1500 CE evolved intricately with state formation, shaped by shifting maritime political economies dominated by China and India. Contrary to conventional assumptions, this evolution was not linear but adapted dynamically to regional policies, particularly those of the Malay port-polities, including the hegemonic Srivijaya state in eastern Sumatra. The study reconstructs this complex interplay using textual records, epigraphic materials, and historical literature, revealing a nuanced picture of premodern Southeast Asian maritime states and naval power dynamics.

Heng, D. (2013). State formation and the evolution of naval strategies in the Melaka Straits, c. 500–1500 CE. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 44(3), 380–399. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022463413000362