Tracing The Footsteps of Early Global Encounters: Unveiling the Historical Archaeology of Early Modern Ambon-Lease Islands

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-186-9_18How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Ambon-Lease Islands; historical archaeology; spice trade; trade networks

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an overview of the historical archaeology of early modern Ambon-Lease Islands. This study focuses specifically on the 16th-17th centuries, a period marked by intense competition among European powers, including the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and English, for control over the lucrative spice trade in the Far East. The Ambon-Lease Islands, known for their abundant spice resources, played a crucial role in this global economic network and became a site of significant cultural and political exchanges. This research uses historical documents, cartographic records, and archaeological fieldwork to reconstruct life’s material and social aspects during this period on the Ambon-Lease Islands. By examining the material remains left behind by European communities, including fortifications, trading posts, and religious artefacts, the study seeks to unravel the complexities of early global encounters and their impact on local societies. This study investigates the nature of indigenous-European interactions, exploring questions of trade, cultural assimilation, resistance, and power dynamics. It seeks to understand how the arrival of European colonisers influenced local economies, social structures, and belief systems. Analysing European-style material culture and its integration with local traditions will shed light on cultural hybridity and negotiation processes. The findings of this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of the Ambon-Lease Islands’ role in the global spice trade and the broader context of European colonialism in Southeast Asia. By examining the archaeological evidence within the historical framework of the 16th and 17th centuries, this study aims to uncover the layers of history and illuminate the dynamic interactions that shaped the cultural landscape of the Ambon-Lease Islands during this transformative period of early global exploration and trade.

Copyright

© 2023 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Daya Negri Wijaya
AU  - Hariyono
AU  - Ari Sapto
AU  - Deny Yudo Wahyudi
AU  - Shela Dwi Utari
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/01/11
TI  - Tracing The Footsteps of Early Global Encounters: Unveiling the Historical Archaeology of Early Modern Ambon-Lease Islands
BT  - Proceedings of the Critical Island Studies 2023 Conference (CISC 2023)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 175
EP  - 183
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-186-9_18
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-186-9_18
ID  - Wijaya2024
ER  -