Banten

Banten is the westernmost province on the island of Java, in Indonesia. The capital city is Serang and the largest city is Tangerang.

Banten borders West Java and the Special Capital Region of Jakarta to the east. It is next to the Java Sea to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Sunda Strait to the west, which separates Java from Sumatra.

The province covers an area of 9,355.76 km². In the 2020 census, Banten had a population of over 11.9 million, and the numbers are still growing.

In the past, Banten was part of the Sundanese Tarumanagara kingdom. Later, it was controlled by Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms. It then became the Banten Sultanate after the spread of Islam. European traders, including the Dutch East India Company, arrived and took control. After Dutch and Japanese rule, Banten became part of Indonesia. It was separated from West Java to become its own province on 17 October 2000.

Etymology

The name "Banten" might come from several ideas. One idea is from the Sundanese words katiban inten, meaning "struck down by diamonds". This connects to the history of the Bantenese people, who followed Buddhism, Hinduism, and later Islam.

Another story says the name comes from the Indonesian Hindu god Batara Guru. He visited a place called Surasowan, now Serang. The area around him was described as shining like diamonds, using the Sundanese words ban inten, which later became "banten".

A third idea is that "Banten" comes from the Indonesian word bantahan, meaning rebuttal. This refers to how the people of Banten resisted Dutch colonial rule. The name "Banten" was used for a river before the Banten Sultanate was founded. The area has been settled since the 11th and 12th centuries and grew importantly during the 16th century.

History

Early history

During the fifth century, Banten was part of the kingdom of Tarumanagara. An old writing from the fourth century shows life in the kingdom under Purnawarman. The kingdom fell after an attack by Srivijaya, and western Java became part of the Sunda Kingdom. Chinese records from around 1225 tell us that Srivijaya controlled Sumatra, the Malay peninsula, and western Java. These records say the port of Sunda was busy and important, with high-quality pepper coming from there. The people were mainly farmers, and their houses were built on wooden poles.

According to a Portuguese explorer, Bantam (Banten) was an important port in the Kingdom of Sunda in the early 16th century, along with several other ports. In 1527, Javanese Muslims took the port of Banten and the area around it from the Sundanese, making the Sultanate of Banten. Banten became a center of the sultanate and a major port in Southeast Asia, rivaling Malacca and Makassar. The town of Banten had a river running through it, and there was a fortress with thick brick walls. The town square was used for military activities and folk art, with a market in the morning. The palace was on the south side of the square, and next to it was a tall building where the king met with people. West of the square was the Great Mosque of Banten.

Colonial era

When the Dutch arrived in Indonesia, the Portuguese had already been in Banten for some time. The English also set up a trading post in Banten, followed by the Dutch. The French and the Danish came to trade there as well. The Dutch won out in the competition among European traders. The Portuguese left Banten in 1601 after the Dutch destroyed their ships off the coast.

Even though the Dutch won, they let the Banten Sultanate keep going. The sultanate depended on trade and had a special right to pepper in Lampung, making the Banten leaders important middlemen. The sultanate grew quickly, becoming a busy place for trade. With help from the British, Danish, and Chinese, Banten traded with Persia, India, Siam, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, and Japan. The time of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa was the sultanate's strongest time. Under his rule, Banten had one of the strongest navies in the region, built with help from European shipbuilders.

A fight happened around 1680 between Ageng Tirtayasa and his son, Abu Nashar Abdul Qahar. The Dutch used this fight to their advantage and helped Haji, leading to a civil war. To get help, Haji sent two messengers to meet King Charles II of England in London in 1682. In the war that followed, Ageng went to Tirtayasa (now Tangerang); on 28 December 1682, the area was taken over by Haji with Dutch help. Ageng and his other sons went to the southern Sunda interior. On 14 March 1683, Sultan Ageng was captured and put in prison in Batavia.

The Dutch kept chasing Sultan Ageng's followers, led by Prince Purbaya and Sheikh Yusuf. On 5 May 1683, the Dutch sent Lieutenant Untung Surapati and his soldiers to help defeat some areas; on 14 December 1683, they captured Sheikh Yusuf. Prince Purbaya gave up when he was greatly outnumbered. Surapati was told to bring Purbaya to Batavia, but a fight with Dutch forces led to those forces being destroyed; Surapati and his followers then had to hide from the Dutch.

Lampung was given to the Dutch in 1682 by Sultan Haji, and a letter from the same year gave the Dutch the right to all pepper in the province. The sultanate also had to pay the Dutch for losses from the war. After Sultan Haji died in 1687, the Dutch had more power in the sultanate; picking a new sultan now needed approval from the governor-general in Batavia. The civil war in Banten caused trouble for the next government.

In 1808, during the Napoleonic Wars, Governor-general Herman Willem Daendels ordered the building of the Great Post Road to protect Java from British attack. Daendels ordered the sultan of Banten to move his capital to Anyer and provide workers to build a port in Ujung Kulon. The sultan refused Daendels' order, and Daendels attacked Banten and destroyed Surosowan Palace. The sultan and his family were held in the palace before being sent away to Fort Speelwijk. Sultan Abul Nashar Muhammad Ishaq Zainulmutaqin was then sent away to Batavia. On 22 November 1808, Daendels announced from his Serang headquarters that the sultanate had been taken over by the Dutch East Indies. The sultanate was finally ended in 1813 by the British after they invaded Java. That year, Sultan Muhammad bin Muhammad Muhyiddin Zainussalihin was forced to give up his position by Thomas Stamford Raffles. After the British gave Java back to the Dutch in 1814, Banten became part of the Dutch East Indies.

Japanese occupation and independence

The Empire of Japan invaded the East Indies and took over Banten in March 1942, after driving out the Dutch. During their three years of control, the Japanese built a railway in southern Lebak. The building of the railway was very hard because of not enough food, no medical care, and the hot climate.

After Japan surrendered in August 1945, the Dutch East Indies declared independence as the Republic of Indonesia. This was not accepted by the Dutch when they returned, leading to the Indonesian war of independence. During the war, Banten stayed with Indonesia. After Indonesia gained independence, Banten was part of the province of West Java. Feelings of wanting to separate led to the creation of the province of Banten on October 17, 2000.

Geography

Banten is a province on the west part of Java, Indonesia. It covers an area of 9,355.76 km².

The area is close to important sea routes and connects Java with Sumatra. It has many industries and busy seaports that help move goods. Banten is also rich in marine resources, with many islands just off its coast.

The land in Banten varies from sea level up to 2,000 meters. Most of the northern and southern areas are lowlands, while the central and eastern parts have hills and mountains. The landscape includes both flat areas and steep slopes.

Banten's weather changes with the seasons. It has rainy and dry periods, with temperatures ranging from warm on the coast to cooler in the mountains. Rainfall amounts vary in different parts of the province throughout the year.

Government and administrative divisions

Banten is led by a Governor and Vice Governor, with elected representatives to help. The province has four areas called regencies and four cities. These areas are divided into smaller parts called districts, which are then split into villages.

Banten has three special areas for choosing national representatives. Each area picks members to help make decisions for the country.

Regency capitals

In 1993, Tangerang became a city and Cipasera became the main town.

In 1999, Cilegon became a city and Serang became the main town.

In 2007, Serang became a city and Ciruas became the main town.

In 2008, South Tangerang became a city and Tigaraksa became the main town.

Demographics

See also: Bantenese people

In 2006, Banten had about 9.4 million people. By 2022, the number grew to around 12.3 million.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Banten

The Bantenese people are the largest group, making up about 47% of the population. They live mainly in central and southern Banten. Most people in northern Banten are Javanese. The Betawi people live around greater Jakarta, including Tangerang. You can also find Chinese Indonesians in cities.

Languages

The main language in Banten is Sundanese. People speak a special kind of Sundanese there. In some areas, you’ll hear Bantenese, Javanese, or Betawi. Indonesian is spoken by many, especially in cities. The Baduy people have their own language.

Religion

Most people in Banten are Muslim. There are also other groups, like the Benteng Chinese in Tangerang and the Baduy people, who follow their own beliefs. Long ago, the area was influenced by Hindu- and Buddhist kingdoms.

Culture

Banten's culture is a mix of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. It includes the pencak silat martial arts, the Saman dance, and Palingtung.

The Baduy people live in central and southern Banten. The Inner Baduy tribes follow a traditional way of life, while the Outer Baduy tribes are more open to change.

Weapons

The golok, similar to a machete, is Banten's traditional weapon. It is now used in martial arts. The Baduy people use goloks for farming and hunting. Other traditional weapons include the kujang, kris, spear, sledgehammer, machete, sword, and bow and arrow.

Traditional housing

Traditional housing in Banten has thatched roofing and floors made of split and pounded bamboo. This type of house is still found in areas where the Kanekes and Baduy peoples live.

Clothing

Bantenese men traditionally wear closed-neck shirts and trousers belted with batik. Bantenese women traditionally wear a kebaya, decorated with a hand-crafted brooch at the waist. Hair is tied into a bun and decorated with a flower.

Islamic architecture

Three-level mosque architecture represents beauty and law.

Pencak silat

Pencak silat is a group of martial arts from Indonesian culture. It began to be recorded when it was influenced by religious teachers during the spread of Islam in the 15th century. Martial arts were taught with religious studies in Islamic boarding schools. Religion and pencak silat became connected. Silat evolved from folk dancing.

Tourism

Banten is a popular place for visitors, especially people from Jakarta and West Java, including Bogor. The area near the west coast of Java has beautiful spots like Carita Beach and Sawarna. There are also lovely islands such as Umang and Sangiang. You can learn about the unique Baduy people, who follow their old traditions. You can see the rare Javan rhinoceros in Ujung Kulon National Park, a special place known around the world.

Other interesting sites include the Great Mosque of Banten, the Old Banten Museum, and the Multatuli Museum. Tanjung Lesung Beach, located in Pandeglang Regency, is a big area with natural beauty. Nearby, Pulau Dua is a small place with colorful coral and many birds that visit each year.

Transport

Banten is in western Java. In 2006, the province had many roads for travel. Some roads were in good shape, some were okay, and a few were not so great. The roads connecting different parts of Banten had less traffic than the main roads.

Trains used to be a common way to travel in Banten, but now there are fewer trains. Some train tracks were still working in 2005, and there were special trains that go to Soekarno–Hatta Airport and other places. New train lines are planned to be built soon.

Soekarno–Hatta International Airport is the biggest airport in Indonesia and helps many people travel in and out of the country. There are also smaller airports in Banten for different kinds of flights.

Economy

Banten's economy in 2022 had different parts. Agriculture made up a small part, manufacturing was the biggest, and services were also important.

In 2006, Banten had many people. Most jobs were in industry, agriculture, trade, and transportation.

Banten is located between Java and Sumatra. Most investment happens in Tangerang, South Tangerang, and the northern area because of good roads and its closeness to Jakarta. The south, like Pandeglang and Lebak, has less roads. Development plans focus more on growth in these northern areas.

Cuisine

Banten has many tasty foods. One popular dish is called rabeg. It is a special soup made from goat or curry. It comes from Serang Regency and was brought there by traders from the Arabian Peninsula, mahbub, milkfish, duck satays, duck soup, laksa from Tangerang, rice vermicelli, beef jerky, and emping.

Sports

Football

Banten has several football clubs. Two clubs, Persita Tangerang and Dewa United, play in the top league, Liga 1. They both use Indomilk Arena in Tangerang regency as their home field. Other clubs like Persikota Tangerang, Persic Cilegon, and Perserang Serang play in lower leagues. Their home games are at Benteng Stadium, Krakatau Steel Stadium, and Maulana Yusuf Stadium.

Motorsports

In 2009, a race track called the Lippo Village International Formula Circuit was built. It was meant to host international races, but this did not happen. The track was later taken apart for expansion. A new street circuit, the BSD City Grand Prix, was created in BSD City for local racing events.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Banten shows a shield with many important symbols. There is a dome from a mosque, a tower from a big mosque, and a gate called Kaibon. There are also rice stalks, cotton flowers, a mountain, the sea, a gearwheel, runway lines, a ribbon, and a Javan rhinoceros. The motto is IMAN TAQWA.

Each symbol has a meaning. The mosque dome shows that the people of Banten care about their beliefs. The star stands for belief in one God. The tower means having a strong spirit guided by God. The gate shows that Banten is a place where people from around the world come. The rice and cotton represent Banten’s farming and enough food and clothes. The numbers 17, 8, and 45 remember when Indonesia declared its independence. The mountain stands for Banten’s natural riches. The rhinoceros shows the people’s strength and protection by the law. The sea with waves means Banten’s wealth from the ocean. The gearwheel stands for development and industry. The runway lines are for Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. The ribbon means the unity of the people of Banten.

The colors also have meanings: red for bravery, white for purity, yellow for glory, black for strength, grey for resilience, blue for peace, green for fertility, and brown for prosperity. The motto IMAN TAQWA means faith and piety, guiding Banten to be independent, advanced, and prosperous.