Majapahit's Trade Networks: From the Moluccas to Ming China

Episode 31 of Fexingo History's Majapahit series takes you deep into the empire's trade networks, which stretched from the Moluccan spice islands to Ming China and beyond. We explore how Majapahit's strategic location at the heart of the archipelago allowed it to control the flow of nutmeg, cloves, and sandalwood, enriching its ports and funding its monumental projects. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the port cities (pasisir) like Tuban and Gresik, the crucial partnership with the merchant communities—both Javanese and foreign—and the diplomatic missions that kept trade routes open. We cover the decline of Majapahit's trade dominance as the Malacca Strait rose and European powers began to arrive, and we examine the contested legacy of Majapahit's maritime economy in modern Indonesia. Specific details include the tribute system under Hayam Wuruk, the types of ships used (jong), and the goods that made Majapahit a hub of global exchange. This episode builds on earlier discussions of the spice routes, the navy, and diplomacy, offering a fresh look at how trade shaped the empire's rise and fall. #Majapahit #Trade #Moluccas #SpiceRoutes #MingDynasty #Pasisir #Tuban #Gresik #HayamWuruk #GajahMada #Jong #Nutmeg #Cloves #Sandalwood #MaritimeHistory #SoutheastAsia #History #FexingoHistory #IndonesianHistory #PalapaOath Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo