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Indonesia: Stone image of the Hindu God Shiva, Majapahit (now Trowulan), East Java, c. 1450

Indonesia: Stone image of the Hindu God Shiva, Majapahit (now Trowulan), East Java, c. 1450

Majapahit was a vast island-based empire centred on the island of Java (modern-day Indonesia) from 1293 to around 1500. Majapahit reached its zenith during the era of Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389, marked by conquest, extended through large parts of Southeast Asia. Many of his achievements are also credited to his prime minister, Gajah Mada.

According to the Nagarakretagama (Desawarnana) written in 1365, Majapahit was an empire of 98 tributaries, stretching from Sumatra to New Guinea; consisting of present day Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand, Sulu Archipelago, Manila, and East Timor, although the true nature of the Majapahit sphere of influence is still the subject of study among historians.

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