[81], The relations between the central kadatuan and its member (subscribers) kadatuans were dynamic. In the fortified city of Bhoga [Palembang, Srivijaya's capital] Buddhist priests number more than 1,000, whose minds are bent on learning and good practices. Sometime around 903, the Muslim writer Ibn Rustah was so impressed with the wealth of the Srivijayan ruler that he declared that one would not hear of a king who was richer, stronger or had more revenue. More than one thousand Buddhist monks lived in the city, and Buddhist travelers were welcomed there to study Buddhist texts. Srivijaya empire, maritime and commercial kingdom that flourished between the 7th and the 13th centuries, largely in what is now Indonesia. Srivijaya's victory on its dominance of river-mouth centers on the Sumatra, Malaya and western Java coasts ensured Palembang's control over the region. [i][17], Subsequently, after studying local stone inscriptions, manuscripts and Chinese historical accounts, historians concluded that the term "Srivijaya" was actually referred to a polity or kingdom. [4]:108. This state is at the middle of the sea, controlling the choke-point through which the various foreign vessels come and go. The empire had access to the trade network of spices from India and goods like silk and porcelain from China. Image credit: Posted 3 years ago. Therefore, the development of an increasingly proactive naval strategy was not only a reaction to the changing nature of interactions with major trading partners such as China and India, but also as a result of Srivijaya's declining power. Despite the Srivijaya Empires decline, the trade routes Srivijayans helped establish continued to be widely used. Although each country put their own spin on an idea, it is evident how trade played a huge role in spreading ideas throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Srivijaya. Other than the Kedukan Bukit inscription and other Srivijayan inscriptions, immediately to the west of modern Palembang city, a quantity of artefacts have been revealed through archaeological surveys commenced since the 20th century. Direct link to Ruhi Kokje's post who was the ruler in the , Posted 3 years ago. The reasons for the naval expeditions are uncertain as the sources are silent about its exact causes. gene barry daughter. Despite the naval confrontation between Java and Srivijaya, communication between the coastal governments of the Indian Ocean and China continued during this time, suggesting that the conflict did not always occur on the high seas, but was more likely to be confined to the estuaries and rivers around the Srivijayan capital of Palembang, the mouth of the Musi River and the Bangka Straits.[96]. srivijaya empire interactions with the environment. Cities such as Palembang, which were popular stops for Chinese Buddhists on pilgrimage, influenced the landscape as new architecture, stupas and pagodas, were constructed. Chinese sources also mentioned that Srivijaya hosts thousands of Buddhist monks. Like their neighbors, the Srivijaya Kingdom of the island of Sumatra, the Shailendra Kingdom was a great ocean-going and trading empire. Many of this armed forces gathered under the Srivijayan rule would have been the sea people, referred to generally as the orang laut. For example, Songshi and Wenxian Tongkao note that between 990 and 991, a Srivijayan envoy was unable to return from South China to Palembang because of the ongoing military conflict between Java and Srivijaya. Without trade, Srivijayan art could not have proliferated, and cross-cultural exchanges of language and style could not have been achieved. In G. Wade & L. Tana (Eds. [101][98], This information may refer to sea and river warfare in particular given the extensive navigation capabilities of the Musi and Batang Hari rivers where the main centers of Srivijaya (Palembang and Jambi) were located. The Srivijaya empire was a thalassocracy (a seaborne empire) and a commercial sea-power that thrived between the 8th and 13th centuries. These titles are mentioned: rjaputra (princes, lit: sons of king), kumrmtya (ministers), bhpati (regional rulers), senpati (generals), nyaka (local community leaders), pratyaya (nobles), hji pratyaya (lesser kings), dandanayaka (judges), tuh an vatak (workers inspectors), vuruh (workers), addhyksi njavarna (lower supervisors), vskarana (blacksmiths/weapon makers), ctabhata (soldiers), adhikarana (officials), kyastha (store workers), sthpaka (artisans), puhvam (ship captains), vaniyga (traders), mars hji (king's servants), hulun hji (king's slaves).[80]. Cultural Interactions Along Trade Routes. The settlement must also have access to both easy transportation and major interregional trade routes, crucial in a region with few resources. The large number of ground troops shows that the Sriwijaya navy only acts as a minor provider of logistical support. By 1178, a Srivijayan mission to China highlighted Srivijaya's role as an intermediary to acquire Bornean products, such as plum flower-shaped Borneo camphor planks. Definition. In 1003, a Song historical record reported that the envoy of San-fo-qi was dispatched by the king Shi-li-zhu-luo-wu-ni-fo-ma-tiao-hua (Sri Cudamani Warmadewa). A statuette found in the same area did align with Srivijayan chronology, but it has been suggested that this is merely a coincidence and the product was actually brought to the region recently. [60]:163, The Cholas continued a series of raids and conquests of parts of Sumatra and Malay Peninsula for the next 20 years. These included the Chinese monk Yijing, who made several lengthy visits to Sumatra on his way to study at Nalanda University in India in 671 and 695, and the 11th century Bengali Buddhist scholar Atisha, who played a major role in the development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. Direct link to dawson.wheeler's post what were the gender role, Posted 2 years ago. The areas upstream of the Musi River were rich in various commodities valuable to Chinese traders. The Srivijaya Empire flourished between the 7th and the 13th centuries in what is now Indonesia. Artefacts unearthed includes large amount of Chinese ceramics and Indian rouletted ware remains, also the ruins of stupa at the foot of Bukit Seguntang. After the bronze and Iron Age, an influx of bronze tools and jewelry spread throughout the region. Manguin, Pierre-Yves (2012). Next to Buddhism, Hinduism was also practiced by the population of Srivijayan kingdom. [58][61][62][63] Even today the Chola rule is remembered in Malaysia as many Malaysian princes have names ending with Cholan or Chulan, one such was the Raja of Perak called Raja Chulan. The Ligor inscription in Vat Sema Muang says that Maharaja Dharmasetu of Srivijaya ordered the construction of three sanctuaries dedicated to the Bodhisattvas Padmapani, Vajrapani, and Buddha in the northern Malay Peninsula.[50]. The Buddhist art of the Srivijayan Kingdom was believed to have borrowed from Indian styles like that of the Dvaravati school of art. What were some of the continuities that are still present from the Srivijaya in today's society? However, between the 9th and the 12th centuries, the influence of Srivijaya seems to have extended far beyond the core. His successor was Princess Pramodhawardhani who was betrothed to Shivaite Rakai Pikatan, son of the influential Rakai Patapan, a landlord in Central Java. The Buddhist pilgrim Yijing's account is especially important in describing Srivijaya, when he visited the kingdom in 671 for six months. Due to their reproductive roles they had higher ritual powers than men and the birth of a daughter was never questioned. The accumulation of particular foreign goods that were easily accessible and in large supply might have given the impression they were products of Srivijaya. No hinterland creates for low archaeological visibility. In offensive naval warfare, their attacks are unmatched. multiple red brick temples and building structures along the Batang Hari river. The second being the overseas center is economically superior to the ports found at the mouth of the rivers, having a higher population and a more productive and technologically advanced economy. Access to the former and later played a major role in the creation of an extreme economic surplus in the absence of an exploited hinterland. In the 20th century, both empires were referred to by nationalistic intellectuals to argue for an Indonesian identity within a united Indonesian state that had existed prior to the colonial state of the Dutch East Indies. Direct link to David Alexander's post Most religions start when, Posted 2 years ago. Already weakened, Srivijaya lost most of its remaining power in 1288 when the Singosari Empire from East Java incorporated them into their empire. The animosity was probably caused by Srivijaya's effort to reclaim the Sailendra lands in Java or by Mataram's aspiration to challenge Srivijaya domination in the region. A particularly popular form of Buddhism in the Srivijaya Empire was, The influence of Buddhism also affected political structures in the Srivijaya Empire. A perfect example of this exchange is the. However, at that time he believed that it referred to a king named "Vijaya", with "Sri" as an honorific title for a king or ruler. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. This linguistic policy was probably stemmed from the rather egalitarian nature of Mahayana Buddhist adhered in Srivijaya, in contrast to the elitist nature of Hinduism. It is assumed that China and Srivijaya may have had an exclusive ceramics trade relationship because particular ceramic shards can only be found at their point of origin, in Guangzhou, or in Indonesia, but nowhere else along the trade route. By the end of the 8th century, many western Javanese kingdoms, such as Tarumanagara and Kalingga, were within the Srivijayan sphere of influence. [55]:229, Dharmawangsa's invasion led the Maharaja of Srivijaya, Sri Cudamani Warmadewa, to seek protection from China. The main concern is to define Srivijaya's amorphous statehood as a thalassocracy, which dominated a confederation of semi autonomous harbour cities in Maritime Southeast Asia. Local divers exploring Indonesia's Musi River have found gold rings, beads and other artifacts that may be linked to the Srivijaya Empire, which controlled sea trade across large swaths of Asia . presently), it is not taut (i.e. Before answering the question, read the following excerpt. 'Giant Harbour', this is probably a testament of its history as once a great port. Srivijaya continued to grow; by the year 1000 it controlled most of Java, but it soon lost it to Chola, an Indian maritime and commercial kingdom that found Srivijaya to be an obstacle on the sea route between South and East Asia. This information is recorded in an inscription of his son, Rajadhiraja Chola I, which states that Rajendra Chola's queen Viramadeviyar committed sati upon Rajendra's death and her remains were interred in the same tomb as Rajendra Chola I in Brahmadesam. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. According to the styles of Shiva and Agastya statues found in Bumiayu temple 1, those Hindu statues are dated from around the 9th to 10th-century. Society was headed by a king, followed by nobles, aristocrats, merchants, workers, artisans, and slaves. These kingdoms on the peninsula were major trading nations that transported goods across the Kra isthmus. In 1380, Srivijaya was stripped of its special relationship to China and the honor of being Chinas vassal was transferred to the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit. In 1006, a Srivijayan Maharaja from the Sailendra dynasty, king Maravijayattungavarman, constructed the Chudamani Vihara in the port town of Nagapattinam. She was born in Kashmir, India but is Hindu. In 1905 Prince Damrong Rajanubhab removed the statue from Wat Wiang, Chaiya, Surat Thani to Bangkok National Museum, Thailand. The historical records of Srivijaya were reconstructed from a number of stone inscriptions, most of them written in Old Malay using Pallava script, such as the Kedukan Bukit, Talang Tuwo, Telaga Batu and Kota Kapur inscriptions. The historical evidence was contrasted in 1975 with publications by Bennet Bronson and Jan Wisseman. [90], Arab writers of the 9th and 10th century, in their writings, considered the king of Al-Hind (India and to some extent might include Southeast Asia) as one of the four great kings in the world. [37] The Srivijayan Period is referred to as the time when Srivijaya ruled over present-day southern Thailand. In 1275, the ambitious and able king Kertanegara, the fifth monarch of Singhasari who had been reigning since 1254, launched a naval campaign northward towards the remains of the Srivijayan mandala. r[13] means "fortunate", "prosperous", or "happy" and Vijaya[14] means "victorious" or "excellence". He concluded, from his earlier publications in 1974 that state development in this region developed much differently than the rest of early Southeast Asia. Discovered in Seguntang Hill, western Palembang, this inscription tells about the establishment of the bountiful rksetra garden endowed by King Jayanasa of Srivijaya for the well-being of all creatures. In 1025 CE, the Chola Emperor Rajendra I launched naval raids on Srivijaya in maritime Southeast Asia, [1] Rajendra's overseas expedition against Srivijaya was a unique event in India's history and its otherwise peaceful relations with the states of Southeast Asia. Some Buddhist sculptures, such as Buddha Vairocana, Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara and Maitreya, were discovered in numerous sites in Sumatra and Malay Peninsula. Expert suggests that the ancient Palembang settlement was formed as a collection of floating houses made from thatched materials, such as wood, bamboo and straw roof. [93], Srivijaya-Palembang's significance both as a center for trade and for the practice of Vajrayana Buddhism has been established by Arab and Chinese historical records over several centuries. was going(inside the Srivijaya Empire) and which cities were receiving these supplies. Regarding its status as the central port of the region, it seems that Srivijaya has a unique "ritual policy" in its relations with the dominant powers of South Asia, Southeast Asia, but mainly with China. Palembang, a major city of the Srivijaya Empire, became a well-known stop for Chinese Buddhist pilgrims on their way to India, the birthplace of Buddhism. Click the . [22] While the Javanese called them Suvarnabhumi, Suvarnadvipa, Melayu, or Malayu. Dewi Tara, the daughter of Dharmasetu, married Samaratunga, a member of the Sailendra family who assumed the throne of Srivijaya around 792. In Java, Dharanindra's successor was Samaragrawira (r. 800819), mentioned in the Nalanda inscription (dated 860) as the father of Balaputradewa, and the son of ailendravamsatilaka (the jewel of the ailendra family) with the stylised name being rviravairimathana (the slayer of a heroic enemy), which refers to Dharanindra. The most important legacy of Srivijayan empire was probably its language. Due to its location, the Srivijaya developed complex technology utilizing maritime resources. [4]:130,132,141,144, The contributary factors in the decline of Srivijaya were foreign piracy and raids that disrupted trade and security in the region. [Hence it is regarded as] the elder of the various states (i.e. In the first half of the 10th century, between the fall of Tang Dynasty and the rise of Song, there was brisk trading between the overseas world with the Fujian kingdom of Min and the rich Guangdong kingdom of Nan Han. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Warmadewa was known as an able and astute ruler, with shrewd diplomatic skills. The statue demonstrates the Central Java art influence. 7900 oak lane suite 200 miami lakes, fl 33016. newborn take me home outfit boy. Srivijaya was a cosmopolitan center. [38] This period was also a time for art. [138] Srivijaya has become the focus of national pride and regional identity, especially for the people of Palembang, South Sumatra province as a whole. [115], Remnants of Buddhist shrines (stupas) near Palembang and in neighboring areas aid researchers in their understanding of the Buddhism within this society. The polity was defined by its centre rather than its boundaries and it could be composed of numerous other tributary polities without undergoing further administrative integration. Alternate titles: rivijaya-Palembang, Shrivijaya. In establishing its power, Srivijaya had first to consolidate its position in Southeast Sumatra, which at that time consists of numbers of quasi-independent polities ruled by local Datus (chieftain). [87], Some historians believe that the Srivijayan core port may have initially been the Musi but then it moved to Jambi and nearby riverine centers in the 11th century. Excavations showed failed signs of a complex urban center under the lens of a sinocentric model, leading to parameters of a new proposed model. It was a regional capital in the Srivijaya empire. This is the first evidence seen in the archaeological record of a Southeast Asian ruler (or king) regarded as a religious leader/figure. For example, from 1405 to 1433, a Chinese Muslim diplomat under the Ming Dynasty named Zheng He undertook several voyages to the Malay Archipelago and on to East Africa and Arabia. According to the Chinese Song Dynasty book Zhu Fan Zhi,[75] written around 1225 by Zhao Rugua, the two most powerful and richest kingdoms in the Southeast Asian archipelago were Srivijaya and Java (Kediri), with the western part (Sumatra, the Malay peninsula, and western Java/Sunda) under Srivijaya's rule and the eastern part was under Kediri's domination. the persons onboard the merchant ships have to be killed). Later, a Chinese chronicle made mention of Shih-li-t-'o-pa-mo (Sri Indravarman) and how the Maharaja of Shih-li-fo-shih had sent the Chinese Emperor a ts'engchi (Chinese spelling of the Arabic Zanji) as a gift in 724. Samara sent his cousin and son-in-law, Mahendra, with his army to help Vijayabahu I to defeat the Cholas and regain the throne. Not just in the Global Tapestry Period of World History. The strike took Srivijaya by surprise and unprepared; they first ransacked the capital city of Palembang and then swiftly moved on to other ports including Kadaram (modern Kedah).[56]. Everyone else formed the base of society. [85], In the world of commerce, Srivijaya rose rapidly to be a far-flung empire controlling the two passages between India and China, namely the Sunda Strait from Palembang and the Malacca Strait from Kedah. Its main focus was the relationship of political, economic and geographical systems. Soekmono, on the other hand, argues that Palembang was not the capital of Srivijaya and suggests that the Kampar River system in Riau where the Muara Takus temple is located as Minanga Tamwan.[25]. Unfortunately, historians have only recovered Srivijaya writings from a small window of timethe seventh centurywritten in Old Malay. Interactions among different peoples along trade routes led to, What might this empire have looked like? The Khmer Empire might also have been a tributary state in its early stages. [7], Other than fostering the lucrative trade relations with India and China, Srivijaya also established commerce links with Arabia. [58][131], Although Srivijaya left few archaeological remains and was almost forgotten in the collective memory in Maritime Southeast Asia, the rediscovery of this ancient maritime empire by Cds in the 1920s raised the notion that it was possible for a widespread political entity to have thrived in Southeast Asia in the past. Also, regional accounts that some might be preserved and retold as tales and legends, such as the Legend of the Maharaja of Javaka and the Khmer King also provide a glimpse of the kingdom. The empiretraded extensively with India and China, incorporating Buddhist and Chinese political practices into their traditions. [22][23] Sanskrit and Pali texts referred to it as Yavades and Javadeh, respectively. The top of the stone is adorned with seven nga heads, and on the lower portion there is a type of water spout to channel liquid that was likely poured over the stone during a ritual. Direct link to mac's post What was the Srivijayan s, Posted 5 months ago. [6] Srivijaya was an important centre for the expansion of Buddhism from the 7th to the 12th century AD. Talang Tuwo serves as one of the world's oldest inscriptions that talks about the environment, highlighting the centrality of nature in Buddhist religion and further, Srivijayan society. As with most things historical, there are many theories, but little in terms of fact. They also presided over harvesting resources from their respective regions for export. The kingdom originated in Palembang on the island of Sumatra and soon extended its influence and controlled the Strait of Malacca. A notable Srivijayan and revered Buddhist scholar is Dharmakirti who taught Buddhist philosophy in Srivijaya and Nalanda. An approach to differentiate between urban settlements in the southern regions from the northern ones of Southeast Asia was initiated by a proposition for an alternative model. [129][130] This eventually led to the Chola Empire coming into conflict with the Srivijaya Empire. Unlike the expansionist Dharmasetu, Samaratungga did not indulge in military expansion but preferred to strengthen the Srivijayan hold of Java. Consider the impacts of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Luce by His Colleagues and Friends in Honour of His Seventy-Fifth Birthday. Vijaya collaborated with Mongol troops in defeating Jayakatwang; Vijaya then turned against the Mongols and expelled them from Java. [97][98], The inability of the Malacca Straits states to respond to maritime threats became very clear in the early 11th century. The political relations and system relating to its realms is described as a mandala model, typical of that of classical Southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms. For some periods, Srivijaya controlled the transoceanic trade in its central passage in the Strait of Malacca, as part of the Maritime Silk Road. voor taal-, land- en volkenkunde, Den Haag 1975. [33] The archaeological site includes eight excavated temple sanctuaries and covers about 12 square kilometers, and stretches 7.5 kilometers along the Batang Hari River, while 80 mounds (menapos) of temple ruins, are not yet restored. [29] By 1993, Pierre-Yves Manguin had shown that the centre of Srivijaya was along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking (situated in what is now Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia). According to historians, this ruler is the same as the Chola ruler Ti-hua-kialo (identified with Kulottunga) mentioned in the Song annals and who sent an embassy to China. sophie hermann sister; best bridge camera for sports photography; dwight howard draft class; list of naacp presidents; Junio 4, 2022. Srivijaya was the first polity to dominate much of western Maritime Southeast Asia. [82], Srivijayan settlers may have colonized some parts of Madagascar. In 988, a Srivijayan envoy was sent to the Chinese court in Guangzhou. It may be that cargo sourced from foreign regions accumulated in Srivijaya. The Srivijayan historiography was acquired, composed and established from two main sources: the Chinese historical accounts and the Southeast Asian stone inscriptions that have been discovered and deciphered in the region. Zheng Hes ability to travel these distances indicates that the Srivijaya trade routes through the Malay Archipelago remained crucial to travel and exchange after the Srivijayan Empire ceased to exist. On 11 November 2011, during the opening ceremony of 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, Palembang, a colossal dance performance titled "Srivijaya the Golden Peninsula" was performed featuring Palembang traditional dances and also an actual sized replica of an ancient ship to describe the glory of the maritime empire. Map of trade routes and extent of Chola influence. [133] For centuries, Srivijaya, through its expansion, economic power and military prowess, was responsible for the widespread of Old Malay throughout the Malay Archipelago. They are, invariably, depicted by the Arabs writers as extremely powerful and being equipped with vast armies of men, horses and having tens of thousands of elephants. [139][140] In popular culture, Srivijaya has become the sources on inspiration for numbers of fictional feature films, novels and comic books. The relations between Balaputra and Pramodhawardhani are interpreted differently by some historians. By the end of the 12th century Srivijaya had been reduced to a small kingdom, and its dominant role in Sumatra had been taken by Malayu (based in Jambi), a vassal of Java. [71] An inscription of Canton mentions Ti-hua-kialo as the ruler of Sri Vijaya. Rajendra Chola, the Chola king from Tamil Nadu in South India, launched naval raids on ports of Srivijaya in 1025. [19] Cds noted that the Chinese references to Sanfoqi, previously read as Sribhoja or Sribogha, and the inscriptions in Old Malay refer to the same empire.[20]. One thing researchers have found Srivijaya to be lacking is an emphasis in art and architecture. Srivijaya recognised that the submission of Melayu would increase its own prestige.[44]. According to various historical sources, a complex and cosmopolitan society with a refined culture, deeply influenced by Vajrayana Buddhism, flourished in the Srivijayan capital. arcane traps mousehunt; digital readout for sliding table saw [6] According to Cds, at the end of the 13th century, the empire "had ceased to exist caused by the simultaneous pressure on its two flanks of Siam and Java. What was the Srivijayan social structure (ex. The Buddhist art and architecture of Srivijaya was influenced by the Indian art of the Gupta Empire and Pala Empire. Arriving at the enemy, they dare to die (i.e. [4]:92 Unlike his predecessor, the expansive and warlike Dharanindra, Samaragrawira seems to have been a pacifist, enjoying the peaceful prosperity of interior Java in the Kedu Plain and being more interested in completing the Borobudur project. Earlier historians, such as N. J. Krom and Cdes, tend to equate Samaragrawira and Samaratungga as the same person. The kingdom was centered around Palembang, on the volcanic island of Sumatra, to the west of Java. For example, a previously suzerained kadatuan over time might rise in prestige and power, so that eventually its ruler could lay claim to be the maharaja of the central kadatuan. ", from Yijing's A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea. Other than Palembang, in Srivijayan realm of Sumatra, three archaeological sites are notable for their Buddhist temple density. The different styles of bangles and beads represent the different regions of origin and their own specific materials and techniques used. By the 12th century, a new dynasty called Mauli rose as the paramount of Srivijaya. The earliest reference to it dates from the 7th century. Early 20th-century historians that studied the inscriptions of Sumatra and the neighboring islands thought that the term "Srivijaya" referred to a king's name. It took about half a year from either direction to reach Srivijaya which was a far more effective and efficient use of manpower and resources. [31] These discoveries has led to the treasure rush in Musi river in 2021, where locals has formed groups of treasure divers operating in some parts of Musi river in and around Palembang.[32]. Did the Srivijaya Empire have any labor systems? For the people of Palembang, Srivijaya has also become a source of artistic inspiration for Gending Sriwijaya song and traditional dance. It was probably only Kedatuan (king's court) and religious structures were built on land, while the people live in floating houses along Musi River. [6] After Srivijaya fell, it was largely forgotten. Electrical Parts Srivijaya helped spread the Malay culture throughout Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and western Borneo. In the 10th century, the rivalry between Sumatran Srivijaya and the Javanese Mataram kingdom became more intense and hostile. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Srivijaya was the first polity to dominate much of western Maritime Southeast Asia. This is evident in the Indian Amaravati style Buddha statue located in Palembang. Strong historical evidence found in Chinese sources, speaking of city-like settlements as early as 700 AD, and later Arab travelers, who visited the region during the 10th and 11th centuries, held written proof, naming the kingdom of Srivijaya in their context. [64][65][66], Rajendra Chola's overseas expeditions against Srivijaya were unique in India's history and its otherwise peaceful relations with the states of Southeast Asia.