MLARTC_FM.part 1.qxp

lapse of empires such as the Pagan and realignments such as those in In-

donesia that gave rise to other states such as the Majapahit political entity

of eastern Java, which retained preeminence in the area through the fif-

teenth century. The growth of the Islamic sphere of influence on the Malay

peninsula, especially in centers such as Malacca, and into Java led to Ma-

japahit’s demise in the sixteenth century.

On the mainland, the thirteenth century saw the development of the

Thai into a major political force. By the end of the next century, unification

of Siam (now Thailand) and the establishment of the kingdom of Laos had

540 Southeast Asia

Silat practice in

Japanese-style

uniforms and belts

illustrates the

influence of non-

Indonesian martial

arts on contempo-

rary silat. (Courtesy

of Joe Svinth)