Islamic ornamental motifs in Indonesia

Abstract

The Islamic epoch – lasting since the time when Islam gained dominance in Java (15th/16th century) till today – is the time of a new great cultural impact on Indonesia, following the Indian influence. Islam spread in Southeast Asia mainly (but not only) through trade contacts. The Islamisation of Indonesia was a long process that can be divided into three phases: the appearance of Muslim merchants (Arab, Persian and Gujarati traders arriving by sea), the formation of Islamic sultanates (the 13th–16th c.) and later the expansion of the new religion to almost the entire archipelago. The initial contacts of the country with the new religion began in Sumatra and could have already occurred in the 7th–8th centuries. [...]