About Indonesia

Indonesia's history is heavily influenced by other nations. The Indonesian archipelago became an important trade region since at least the 7th century, when the kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang religion and trade relations with China and India. Hindu kingdoms and Buddhism has grown in the early centuries AD, followed by the traders who brought Islam, and various European powers fought one another to monopolize the spice trade of Maluku during the era of ocean exploration. Once under Dutch rule, Indonesia which was then called the Dutch East Indies declared independence at the end of World War II. Furthermore, Indonesia has received a variety of obstacles, threats and challenges from natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.

From Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest ethnic group with a population reaching 41.7% of the population of Indonesia. [9] Indonesia's national motto, "Bhineka Tunggal Ika" ("Different but remains one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Besides having a dense population and vast territory, Indonesia has a natural area that supports the level of biodiversity in the world's second largest.

Indonesia has about 300 ethnic groups, each ethnicity has a cultural heritage that evolved over centuries, influenced by Indian culture, Arabic, Chinese, European, and includes its own culture that is Malay. Examples of traditional Javanese and Balinese dances have a cultural aspect and Hindu mythology, like shadow puppets featuring stories of Ramayana and Hindu mythological events Baratayuda. There are also many dance that contains the values ​​of Islam. Some of them can be found in areas such as Sumatra and dance dance Ratéb Meuseukat Seudati of Aceh.

The art of verse, couplets, etc. from various areas such as Malay poem, and poem-poem more often used in certain events ie events, performing arts, and others.