Srivijaya's Tin Trade: The Metal That Powered an Empire

Tin was the unsung backbone of the Srivijayan economy, funding its Buddhist monasteries, naval power, and diplomatic gifts to Tang and Song China. This episode traces the tin trade from the mines of the Malay Peninsula—especially the Kinta Valley and the island of Bangka—to the bustling port of Palembang. Lucas explains how Srivijaya controlled the tin supply chain through a network of tributary mining settlements and Orang Laut patrols, and how Chinese records like the Zhufan Zhi and Songshu document the empire's tin exports. Luna asks about the archaeology of tin smelting, the link between tin and the sandalwood flower coin, and the rivalry with the Chola empire over tin routes. The episode also touches on the environmental impact of ancient mining and the persistence of tin as a strategic resource into the modern era. #Srivijaya #TinTrade #MalayPeninsula #Bangka #KintaValley #ZhufanZhi #SongDynasty #Palembang #OrangLaut #SandalwoodFlowerCoin #SouthEastAsiaHistory #MaritimeHistory #MiningHistory #CholaEmpire #StraitOfMalacca #EnvironmentalHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo