ABSTRACT: Traditionally, ocean is seen as the source of inspiration in the quest for truth that denies the theory of worldview which is always related to myths and superstitions. Ocean has its advantage to tie relationship between nations, to form the will of togetherness, to understand each other as well as to generate wealth. It is priceless treasure which cannot be traded and changed. On the contrary, ocean can also be regarded as a conflict zone that has brought the fall of many ancient traditional civilizations and caused the distant relationship between nations. In relation to this, this article will review the importance of observation relating to maritime aspects of this region and the ability of maritime in re-uniting modern countries of South East Asia that have destroyed due to past colonization. To realize the mission and vision of uniting the nations of this region, a paradigm shift in the government policy as well as in the mind of the people should first be done, i.e. to see oceans as an uniting factor not as separator. In a bigger framework, all nations of this region should instil the determination and awareness that the historical and cultural maritime of Southeast Asia belongs to everybody and it is the joint heritage of every states and nations in this region.

KEY WORDS: Ocean, united nation, islands of South East Asia, archipelago, and the history of maritime.

About the Author: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ismail Ali is a Lecturer at the Programme of History, School of Social Sciences UMS (Malaysia University of Sabah), Jalan Beg Berkunci 273, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. He can be reached at: ismailrc@ums.edu.my

How to cite this article? Ali, Ismail. (2010). “Observation and Discussion on the History of Maritime Archipelago” in TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, Vol.1(2) April, pp.139-158. Bandung, Indonesia: ASPENSI [Asosiasi Sarjana Pendidikan Sejarah Indonesia], ISSN 2085-0980.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (February 14, 2010); Revised (March 19, 2010); and Published (April 28, 2010).

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1974). Introduction to Filipina History. Quezon City: Garotech Publishing.

Aughton, Peter. (2007). Voyages that Changed the World. London: Quercus Publishing Plc.

Belcher, Edward. (1848). Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang during the Years 1843-1846, Vol.II. London: Reeve, Benham & Reeve.

Coedes, George. (1971). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Dalrymple, Alexander. (1808). Essay towards an Account of Sulu: Oriental Repertory, Vol.I. London: n.p.

Dick-Read, Robert. (2008). Penjelajah Bahari: Pengaruh Peradaban Nusantara di Afrika. Translation. Bandung: PT Mizan Pustaka.

Djamil, Agus S. (2004). Al-Quran dan Lautan. Bandung: PT Mizan Pustaka.

Embong, Abdul Rahman. (2001). Negara-Bangsa: Proses dan Perbahasan. Bangi: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Forrest, Thomas. (1969). A Voyage to New Guinea and the Moluccas from Balambangan, Including an Account of Magindanao, Sooloo and Other Islands. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.

Fukuyama, Francis. (1992). The End of History. New York: The Free Press.

Hajad, Julasari. (2007). Tausug & Kesultanan Sulu. Selangor: RNH Marketing Sdn. Bhd.

Hall, Kenneth R. (1985). Maritime Trade and State Development in Early Southeast Asia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Johnson, Derek & Mark Valencia. (2005). Piracy in Southeast Asia: Status, Issues and Responses. Singapore: ISEAS Publications.

Keppel, Henry. (1874). The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke of Sarawak, Vol.II. London: n.p., 3rd edition.

Lapian, Adrian B. (2008). Pelayaran dan Perniagaan Nusantara Abad ke-16 dan 17. Jakarta: Komunitas Bambu.

Lapian, Adrian B. (2009). Orang Laut, Bajak Laut, Raja Laut: Sejarah Kawasan Laut Sulawesi Abad XIX. Jakatra: Komunitas Bambu.

Leng, Lee Yong. (1978). Southeast Asia and the Law of the Sea. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

Levathes, Louise E. (1994). When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433. New York: Oxford University Press.

Mahan, Alfred Thayer. (1965). The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1600-1783. London: Methuen University Paperbacks.

Majul, Caser Adib. (1978). Muslim in the Philippines. Manila: Saint Mary’s Publishing.

Mohammad Raduan Mohd Ariff & Shahril Talib. (1995). ”Penulisan dan Realiti Sejarah Asia Tenggara: Satu Persoalan” in Jurnal Pengajian Asia Tenggara. Kuala Lumpur: Jabatan Pengajian Asia Tenggara UM [University of Malaya].

Munoz, Paul Michel. (2006). Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula. Singapore: Mainland Press.

Ohmae, Kenichi. (1995). The Ends of the Nation-State: The Rise of Regional Economics. New York: The Free Press.

Ong Jin Eong & Gong Wooi Khoon. (2001). The Seas. Singapore: Archipelago Press.

Pelras, Christian. (2006). Manusia Bugis. Translation. Jakarta: Nalar.

Raleigh, Sir Walter. (1971). The History of the World. London: Quercus Publishing Plc.

Reber, Anne. (1966). “The Sulu World in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries: A Historiographical Problem in British Writings on Malay Piracy”. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University.

Reid, Anthony. (1988). Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce, 1450-1680. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Reid, Anthony. (2004). Sejarah Modern Awal Asia Tenggara. Translation. Jakarta: Pustaka LP3ES.

Roelofsz, Melink. (1962). Asian Trade and European Influence in the Indonesian Archipelago between 1500 and about 1630. The Hague: Nijhoff.

Rutter, Owen. (1930). The Pirate Wind: Tales of the Sea-Robbers of Malaya. London: Hutchinson.

Sather, Clifford. (1997). The Bajau Laut: Adaptation, History and Fate in a Maritime Fishing Society of South-Eastern Sabah. Singapore: ISEAS Publications.

Sazlan, Iskandar. (2000). Laporan Suruhanjaya Bebas Kelautan Dunia. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Malaysia [MIMA].

Shaffer, Lynda Norene. (1996). Maritime Southeast Asia to 1500. New York: M.E. Sharpe Inc.

Sopher, David E. (1965). The Sea Nomads: A Study of the Maritime Boat People of Southeast Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Publications.

Tarling, Nicholas. (1972). Piracy and Politics in the Malay World: A Study of British Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century South East Asia. Melbourne: Australian National University Press.

Van Leur, J.C. (1960). Indonesian Trade and Society: Essays in Asian Social and Economic History. Bandung: Sumur Bandung.

Vlekke, Bernard H.M. (2008). Nusantara: Sejarah Indonesia. Translation. Jakarta: Gramedia.

Wallace, Alfred. (1962). The Malay Archipelgo. New York: Dova Publications.

Warren, James F. (1981). The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898: The Dynamics of External Trade, Slavery, and Ethnicity in the Transformation of a Southeast Asian Maritime State. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

Warren, James F. (2002). Iranun and Balangingi: Globalization, Maritime Raiding and the Birth of Ethnicity. Singapore: National University of Singapore Press.

Wolters, O.W. (1967). Early Indonesian Commerce: A Study of the Origin of Srivijaya. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.

Wolters, O.W. (1969). The Fall of Srivijaya in Malay History. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.