Explore Malay history and culture here. Get a comprehensive overview of developments in the Malay Peninsula and insular Southeast Asia, from ancient times to the 16th century. 'Melayu' denoted an ancient kingdom (7th-11th centuries), based in Srivijaya, Indonesia, and Malacca. In the 17th century, 'Malay' emerged in British and Dutch writings, referring to groups with shared physical appearances and language.
