Maluku Islands

The Maluku Islands, also called the Moluccas, are a group of islands in the eastern part of Indonesia. They sit on the Halmahera Plate in a place where sea floors push together, called the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Even though they are close to Oceania, they are often thought of as a link between Asia and Oceania.

These islands were once known as the Spice Islands because they had special spices like nutmeg, mace, and cloves that grew nowhere else. These spices became so valuable that they drew the attention of European countries in the 1500s.

From Indonesia’s independence until 1999, the Maluku Islands were one big area. Then they were divided into two parts: North Maluku and Maluku Province. North Maluku’s capital is Sofifi on Halmahera island, while Ambon is the capital of Maluku Province.

Etymology

The word Maluku has an uncertain origin, and many experts have debated its meaning.

The oldest known use of a word linked to Maluku appears in an old poem from 1365 called Nagarakertagama. It mentions a place called Maloko, which some believe refers to Ternate or the Moluccas.

One theory suggests that Maluku comes from the phrase Moloko Kie Raha. In the Ternate language, raha means "four", and kie means "mountain". The phrase kie raha or "four mountains" refers to Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo. The meaning of Moloko or Moloku is not clear. It might mean "to hold or grasp" in Ternate, making Moloko Kie Raha mean "Confederation of the Four Mountains". Another idea is that it comes from a local language meaning "the place of the four mountains" or "the world of the four mountains".

History

Early history

People lived on the Maluku Islands as long ago as 40,000 years ago. Later, new groups arrived around 2000 BC.

We know from old objects found in Ternate that religions like Hinduism and Buddhism were present. Later, Arab traders came in the 1300s and brought Islam to many places. Some areas kept older beliefs.

Stories and old objects show links to other places, like Bali. For example, tales from Kai Kecil island tell of visitors from Bali long ago. Objects found there connect to that history.

Portuguese

In 1511, the Portuguese took over a city called Malacca. This changed trade in the area and brought Christianity to parts of eastern Indonesia, including the Maluku Islands.

A Portuguese explorer named Francisco Serrão reached the island of Hitu in 1512 after a shipwreck. He made friends with local leaders and helped them. The Portuguese set up a base there and bought spices from nearby islands. Even though they tried, the Portuguese could not control all the spice trade.

Dutch

Main articles: Dutch East India Company, Dutch East Indies, and Dutch–Portuguese War

The Dutch arrived in 1599 and wanted to control the spice trade. They worked with local rulers and took over areas like Ambon and Tidore by 1605, pushing out the Portuguese. They used strong methods to control the spice trade, including taking over islands that grew nutmeg.

Later, other powers tried to take control. During big wars in Europe, British forces took the islands for a time but returned them to the Dutch in 1817.

After Indonesian independence

When Indonesia became independent, some people in Maluku wanted to form their own nation called the Republic of South Maluku. This group was stopped by Indonesian forces. Many of these people moved to the Netherlands.

The area was one of the first provinces of Indonesia. In 1999, parts of it became a new province called North Maluku. The main city of Maluku moved from Ternate to Sofifi, but Ambon remains an important city.

1999–2003 inter-communal conflict

Main article: Maluku sectarian conflict

In January 1999, fights broke out between different groups on the islands. For about a year and a half, there was heavy fighting. Many homes were destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people had to leave their homes. The conflict caused many sad losses and separated communities.

Geography

The Maluku Islands cover an area of 850,000 km², and most of this area is sea. There are about 1027 islands. The two largest islands, Halmahera and Seram, have few people, while smaller islands like Ambon and Ternate are more developed.

Most islands are forested and mountainous. The Tanimbar Islands are dry and hilly, while the Aru Islands are flat and swampy. Mount Binaiya on Seram is the highest mountain, standing at 3,027 meters. Some islands, like Ternate, are volcanoes that rise from the sea, and villages are along their coasts. The area has had many serious volcanic eruptions and earthquakes over the past 500 years.

Biogeographically, the islands (except the Aru group) are in a region called Wallacea, between Asia and Australia. This position means the animals and plants there are more similar to those in Australia than in Asia. The Maluku Islands are geologically young, from 1 million to 15 million years old, and have never been connected to larger landmasses. This isolation has led to many unique species found only here.

The ecology of the Maluku Islands has interested scientists for a long time. Famous naturalists like Alfred Wallace and Georg Eberhard Rumphius studied the area. Forests cover much of northern and central Maluku, while smaller islands often have plantations growing crops like cloves and nutmeg. The drier islands, such as the Tanimbar Islands, have sparse vegetation similar to nearby Timor. Two national parks, Manusela National Park and Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park, were created to protect endangered species.

The islands are home to many special animals. Night-time mammals like cuscus and bandicoots are common, and there are also introduced animals like Malayan civets and wild pigs. Bird life is rich, especially on the larger islands, with about 100 species found only here. The Aru Islands have animals more similar to those in New Guinea, including kangaroos and special birds.

Small islands face unique challenges. They are more affected by volcanic activity, earthquakes, and storms. Their climates are often influenced by the sea, and they have smaller areas for water to collect, leading to more erosion. Coastal areas make up a larger part of these islands, and many plants and animals are found nowhere else. People on these islands may have strong cultural traditions due to their isolation.

Central and southern Maluku Islands have a dry season from October to March and a wet season from May to August, which is opposite to the rest of Indonesia. Northern Maluku has its wet season from December to March, matching the rest of the country. Each island group has its own climate patterns, with larger islands having drier coastlands and wetter mountain areas.

Demographics

Main article: Moluccans

The Maluku Islands have many different people. In 2020, about 3 million people lived there. Because they were traders on the sea, many people have mixed backgrounds.

People in the Maluku Islands speak over 130 languages, but many now use two special mix-up languages called Ternate and Ambonese. These help everyone understand each other better.

Government and politics

Administrative divisions

The Maluku Islands are divided into two areas called provinces: Maluku and North Maluku.

Economy

The Maluku Islands grow useful plants such as cloves, nutmeg, cocoa, coffee, and fruit. Fishing is very important, especially near Halmahera and Bacan. The Aru Islands make pearls, and Seram sends out lobsters. On the bigger islands, people cut down trees for wood. Seram makes special wood called ironwood, and teak and ebony come from Buru.