From its humble origins as a small rice-farming kingdom in 13th-century Java, the Majapahit Empire grew into a maritime superpower that controlled much of what is today Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and beyond. At its peak under Hayam Wuruk and his brilliant prime minister Gajah Mada, Majapahit enforced a vast tributary system stretching from Sumatra to New Guinea, leaving an indelible mark on the region’s culture, language, and identity. This podcast, co-hosted by Lucas and Luna, explores the empire’s rise through the lens of the Pararaton (Book of Kings) and Nagarakretagama, its sophisticated administration under the Palapa Oath, its adoption of syncretic Hindu-Buddhist practices, and the geopolitical rivalries that eventually led to its decline in the 15th and 16th centuries. We delve into the role of the keris as both weapon and spiritual object, the architectural legacy of the Candi Sukuh and Candi Penataran temples, and the enduring debate over the historical accuracy of the Madura War and the figure of Damar Wulan. We also examine Majapahit’s trade networks with China, India, and the Middle East, its naval prowess, and its cultural impact on modern Indonesian nationhood — the Garuda Pancasila, the state philosophy, traces its roots to Majapahit iconography. Why did this great thalassocracy vanish, and what does its legacy mean for Southeast Asia today?
