Ali, Ismail and Abdullah, Mohd Firdaus (2024) Tracing the Heritage and Civilization of Austronesian Seafarers Across Waters, Seas and Oceans in the Southeast Asian Archipelago. Applied History Journal of Merong Mahawangsa (AHJMM), 2. pp. 41-55. ISSN 3009-0547

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Abstract

The waters, seas and oceans have traditionally been a source of inspiration for the search of truth. It also manages to negate the human worldview that associates it with various elements of myth and superstition. The waters, seas, and oceans are also a place with the advantage of consolidating ties between countries by forming a united, mutual understanding and generating mutual wealth. It is an invaluable, irreplaceable, and modified property. Historiography in Southeast Asia saw a close relationship between people named "humans‵‵ in the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Flores Sea, Java Sea, Banda Sea and beyond. History has shown how people have braved countless waves and storms in the seas and oceans to ensure that the legacy and spirit of the sailors are passed on to the next generation. It has made the region a centre of superior civilization as well as a modelfor other world civilizations. This article—therefore—aims to reassess the history of the Austronesian seafarers from the perspective of Southeast Asian history. The results of this study have opened a debate, whether it is true that this Austronesian seafarer’s tribe originated in Taiwan as stated in the theory of migration and linguistics, or otherwise. This article contends that the Austronesian seafarer today came from Southeast Asia itself and have migrated out to expand their civilizations in regionsof Oceania such as Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia all the way to Taiwan up to Madagascar. There is no easy answer, and even though such problematization needs to be studied by considering various other issues and disciplines, this article forwards the evidence brought through the examination of the Austronesian seafarers

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Austronesian, Seafarers, Water, Seas, Oceans, Southeast Asia
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	College of Arts and Sciences
Depositing User:	Mdm. Rozana Zakaria
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2026 10:33
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2026 10:33
URI:	https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/32694

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