Discover the history and culture of the Malay world here. Gain an in-depth understanding of developments across the Malay Peninsula and maritime Southeast Asia from antiquity up to the 16th century. The term Melayu once referred to an early kingdom (7th–11th centuries) centered in Srivijaya, Indonesia, and later in Malacca. By the 17th century, the word Malay began appearing in British and Dutch records to describe communities united by common physical traits and a shared language.
