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How Did Nutmeg Cause Wars In Indonesia? | The Spice Trail | Absolute History

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The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is a large evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Until the late 18th century, it only grew in one place in the world: a small group of islands in the Banda Sea, part of the Moluccas – or Spice Islands – in northeastern Indonesia. The tree is thickly branched with dense foliage of tough, dark green oval leaves, and produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers and pale yellow pear-shaped fruits. The fruit is encased in a flesh husk. When the fruit is ripe, this husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit. Inside is a purple-brown shiny seed, 2-3 cm long by about 2 cm across, surrounded by a lacy red or crimson covering called an ‘aril’. These are the sources of the two spices nutmeg and mace, the former being produced from the dried seed and the latter from the aril.

Nutmeg was a highly prized and costly ingredient in European cuisine in the Middle Ages, and was used as a flavouring, medicinal, and preservative agent. Throughout this period, the Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe. They sold nutmeg for high prices to merchants based in Venice, but they never revealed the exact location of the source of this extremely valuable commodity. The Arab-Venetian dominance of the trade finally ended in 1512, when the Portuguese reached the Banda Islands and began exploiting its precious resources.

Always in danger of competition from neighbouring Spain, the Portuguese began subcontracting their spice distribution to Dutch traders. Profits began to flow into the Netherlands, and the . The Dutch quietly gained control of most of the shipping and trading of spices in Northern Europe. Then, in 1580, Portugal fell under Spanish rule, and by the end of the 16th century the Dutch found themselves locked out of the market. As prices for pepper, nutmeg, and other spices soared across Europe, they decided to fight back.

In 1602, Dutch merchants founded the VOC, a trading corporation better known as the Dutch East India Company. By 1617, the VOC was the richest commercial operation in the world. The company had 50,000 employees worldwide, with a private army of 30,000 men and a fleet of 200 ships. At the same time, thousands of people across Europe were dying of the plague, a highly contagious and deadly disease. Doctors were desperate for a way to stop the spread of this disease, and they decided nutmeg held the cure. Everybody wanted nutmeg, and many were willing to spare no expense to have it. Nutmeg bought for a few pennies in Indonesia could be sold for 68,000 times its original cost on the streets of London. The only problem was the short supply. And that’s where the Dutch found their opportunity.

The Banda Islands were ruled by local sultans who insisted on maintaining a neutral trading policy towards foreign powers. This allowed them to avoid the presence of Portuguese or Spanish troops on their soil, but it also left them unprotected from other invaders. In 1621, the Dutch arrived and took over. Once securely in control of the Bandas, the Dutch went to work protecting their new investment. They concentrated all nutmeg production into a few easily guarded areas, uprooting and destroying any trees outside the plantation zones. Anyone caught growing a nutmeg seedling or carrying seeds without the proper authority was severely punished. In addition, all exported nutmeg was covered with lime to make sure there was no chance a fertile seed which could be grown elsewhere would leave the islands. There was only one obstacle to Dutch domination. One of the Banda Islands, a sliver of land called Run, only 3 km long by less than 1 km wide, was under the control of the British. After decades of fighting for control of this tiny island, the Dutch and British arrived at a compromise settlement, the Treaty of Breda, in 1667. Intent on securing their hold over every nutmeg-producing island, the Dutch offered a trade: if the British would give them the island of Run, they would in turn give Britain a distant and much less valuable island in North America. The British agreed. That other island was Manhattan, which is how New Amsterdam became New York. The Dutch now had a monopoly over the nutmeg trade which would last for another century.

Then, in 1770, a Frenchman named Pierre Poivre successfully smuggled nutmeg plants to safety in Mauritius, an island off the coast of Africa. Some of these were later exported to the Caribbean where they thrived, especially on the island of Grenada. Next, in 1778, a volcanic eruption in the Banda region caused a tsunami that wiped out half the nutmeg groves. Finally, in 1809, the British returned to Indonesia and seized the Banda Islands by force. They returned the islands to the Dutch in 1817, but not before transplanting hundreds of nutmeg seedlings to plantations in several locations across southern Asia. The Dutch nutmeg monopoly was over.

Today, nutmeg is grown in Indonesia, the Caribbean, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, and world nutmeg production is estimated to average between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes per year.

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At first i thought do research with 'stonehenge' after JC's tutorial

Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was constructed in several phases from around 3100 BC to 1600 BC, with the circle of large sarsen stones placed between 2600 BC and 2400 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC.

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but after some discussion with friends and research I decided to research about some other and more intersting 

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so I decided to research about plant migration ' Migration of nutmeg'

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so I decided to research about plant migration ' Migration of nutmeg'

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grayson perry

map as art

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How nutmeg made its way from 15th-century infamy to the Thanksgiving table

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Nutmeg Processing, circa 1890-1900. Credit: University of Amsterdam

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Banda Islands, or “Spice Islands”,  Public Domain

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Fragrant Origins - Nutmeg: the tale of Blood, Sex and Empires

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This Article originally published on Cafleurebon.com Myristica fragrans ( Nutmeg ), Illustration by Köhler, Public Domain To some, the scent of nutmeg conjures crisp, rural Connecticut farms, baked holiday treats, and of course the now infamous Starbuck’s PSL. But this most muskiest of spices has a torrid past of sex, drugs and bickering empires. The word Nutmeg comes from the latin Nux, meaning Nut, and Muscus, meaning Musk - an aptly named spice, with an unforgettable scent. There is a certain depth and musky animalic intrigue that lingers below a dense coat of dry, cloying sweetness. A deeply nuanced aroma that holds the history of bloody wars, sex and luxury in its fragrant molecules. Banda Islands, or “Spice Islands”, Public Domain The species Myristica fragrans, a tropical evergreen tree, is native only to one obscure chain of islands, located 250 miles off the eastern coast of Indonesia. Today we know these as the Banda Islands, or the once fabled Spice Islands. With Nutmeg’s native habitat being so condensed, no one quite knows the origin of this unique species; some suggest ancient migrations via birds, while others claim natural evolution. Whatever the case, this once invaluable tree actually provides us with two spices — Mace and Nutmeg. Mace and Nutmeg, Stock Image Crack open the woody flesh of a nutmeg fruit ( which some locals turn into a refreshingly fragrant juice ), and you will find a hard pit laced in veins of a blistering red membrane. This waxy lace is peeled away, dried and sold as Mace - but no relation to the tear-invoking pepper spray. The remaining seed is dried in the sun over a period of months and then sold as Nutmeg. Nutmeg Processing, circa 1890-1900. Credit: University of Amsterdam Many wars have been waged over the demand for this spice. However, the native people of the Banda Islands were great sea-navigators and had a thriving port of trade, long before the Western Europeans entered the stage. It was by chance that Arabian-Persian merchants first encountered these spice islands in the 1400’s. What they found waiting for them was a treasure trove of the unknown — Nutmeg, Mace, Cloves — all things that the western world had previously never seen. Plague Doctor, Circa 1500’s, known to stuff their “beaks” with a mixture of spices, including Nutmeg, thought to purify the air they breathe. Credit: Bridgeman Art Library Arabian Merchants began exporting Nutmeg into Europe and it quickly surged in popularity— both for it’s status as something luxurious and exotic, and much later, as a reported cure-all for everything from gas to the bubonic plague. And nutmeg wasn’t the only spice to tout this title — modern aromatherapy bends often referred to as “Thieves” are based off remedies of this era; mainly a combination of clove, eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary, — all said to ward off the illness. Fort Belgica - one of many Dutch-Built fortresses used to protect Nutmeg Monopoly. Credit: Wikipedia The rise of nutmeg’s popularity had paralleled the era of the New World and expanding empires, and the Dutch saw the spice trade as their next frontier. In 1512, they set sail for the Spice Islands and committed genocide against uncooperative natives, enslaving survivors, and establishing complete control on the world’s nutmeg trade. There was one problem however, The British. They had secured one nearby island — a nearly 1 square mile piece of volcanic rock — called

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Sweet Recipes That Use Nutmeg:

Caramel Apple Bites with Brie

Best Zucchini Bread

Southern Peach Pie Recipe

Gingerbread Fudge

Cherry Dumpling Casserole

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Quick Apple Cake with Salted Caramel

Starbucks Pumpkin Bread +VIDEO

Eggnog Cookies

Banana Nut Muffins

Savory Recipes:

Homemade Poultry Seasoning

Creamed Spinach

Instant Pot Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Maple Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Relish

Steakhouse Steak Rub + VIDEO

Cranberry Glazed Tri-Tip Roast

Cheese Torte

Butternut Squash Soup

Ham and Cheese Egg Souffle

Honey Glazed Carrots

Crispy Parmesan Chicken

Cocktails and Drinks:

Hot Buttered Rum

Orange Frost Cocktail

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Health

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Bhupesh Panchal, Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate

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Everything You Need To Know About Nutmeg | Holland & Barrett

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We all know what nutmeg is, but what exactly do we know about the ‘sexy spice’? Everything you need to know, from its uses in the kitchen to the bedroom in this article.

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Nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans)is a familiar, fragrant holiday spice available to purchase both ground and whole. It is also used in cosmetics and sold as nutmeg butter and essential oil.

Despite its name, nutmeg is not a nut. The spice is produced by grinding the seed of the Myristica fragrans, a native Indonesian evergreen tree.

Traditionally, nutmeg has been used in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian), traditional Chinese, and traditional Thai medicines due to its strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

It has been studied for its use as a remedy for pain, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems. However, because most of nutmeg's studies have been performed in test tubes and with animals, there is not enough evidence to predict its effects on these conditions in humans.

Learn more about the health benefits of nutmeg, dosage, potential toxicity, and more.

Nutmeg Facts

Benefits of Nutmeg

Besides its use as a flavorful spice, nutmeg is traditionally thought to have many health and medicinal benefits. However, human clinical trials are limited, and more research is needed to determine its effects.

May Help With Pain

Using nutmeg oil externally on the body may help reduce joint pain. However, the research is very limited.

One randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial examined the clinical effects of topical nutmeg extract in people with painful diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to diabetes).

Seventy-four participants used either nutmeg extract, mace oil, nutmeg oil, coconut oil, methyl salicylate, menthol, or a placebo (an intentionally ineffective treatment given to people in a control group).

After four weeks, the nutmeg group showed improvement in pain, mood scores, and daily functions. However, the results were not statistically significant between the nutmeg and placebo groups. This study was small and short term; therefore, more research is needed to better evaluate its effects.

Rich in Antioxidants

Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress is associated with an increased risk of disease.

Nutmeg contains antioxidants, including:

Vitamins

Carotenoids (beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin)

Terpenoids

Alkaloids

Flavonoids

Lignans

Phenolic compounds

Research done in test tubes has validated the antioxidant effects of nutmeg extract. However, more studies in humans are needed to determine the effects of these antioxidants.

Contains Nutrients Involved in Regulating Blood Pressure

Nutmeg contains micronutrients calcium and magnesium, which are important in regulating blood pressure.

Human research on the direct effect of nutmeg ingestion and blood pressure is lacking. It is highly unlikely that simply consuming nutmeg will impact your blood pressure, rather, your overall dietary patterns are more important.

However, using spices like nutmeg to flavor dishes and reduce sodium intake may contribute to improvements in blood pressure, in addition to other measures.

May Improve Libido

Supplemental nutmeg extracts enhanced libido (sex drive) in male rats.

Male rats were given 50% ethanol nutmeg extract in varying doses: 100, 250, and 500 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of weight (mg/kg) for seven days. In the rats, 500 mg/kg produced a significant change in sexual activity.

Researchers suggest this is due to nutmeg extract's effects on the central nervous system.

Unfortunately, animal studies do not always translate to human results. Studies involving humans are needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of using nutmeg for libido.

Side Effects of Nutmeg

Taking large amounts of nutmeg can cause toxic side effects, such as:

If you believe you are experiencing nutmeg intoxication, get medical help as soon as possible.

Precautions

Do not consume nutmeg in large quantities.

Supplemental use of nutmeg in amounts higher than what is found in foods is not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding people.

Recreational use of nutmeg to get "high" is very dangerous. Ingesting large amounts of nutmeg can achieve a high and lead to adverse effects, including nutmeg intoxication.

Dosage: How Much Nutmeg Should I Take?

Consuming nutmeg in normal amounts, such as those found in food, is safe.

There isn't enough evidence to suggest a safe dosage of nutmeg. It is also unclear how much you can apply safely to the skin.

What Happens If I Consume Too Much Nutmeg?

Nutmeg contains a substance called myristicin, a natural organic compound present in the essential oil of nutmeg.

Myristicin may be responsible for the psychotic effects of nutmeg. Some reports suggest toxic effects from ingesting 1-2 teaspoons of nutmeg in one sitting.

To prevent these effects, total consumption of less than 10 grams per sitting (slightly under 1.5 tablespoons of ground nutmeg) has also been suggested.

Interactions

Nutmeg may interact with certain medications that are broken down by your liver and those that increase a chemical called acetylcholine. This can impact how your medications work.

Consult with your healthcare provider before taking nutmeg, especially if you also take prescription medications.

How to Store Nutmeg

Store nutmeg (both whole and ground) in a cool, dry place and avoid exposure to direct heat and moisture. Whole nutmeg can be grated into or onto dishes and typically produces a superior flavor than store-bought ground nutmeg. Store out of the reach of children.

Sources & What to Look For

You can purchase ground nutmeg in any grocery store. You can find it in the spice section, where there may be organic products available as well.

If you are considering using another form of nutmeg, such as nutmeg extract, oil, or butter, consult a registered dietitian for individualized guidance.

Nutmeg is a traditional spice used in sweet and savory dishes. It has an impressive nutritional profile.

Limited animal studies suggest the powerful plant compounds are responsible for nutmeg's potential health benefits. However, more human research is needed to support these claims and to test the safety, effectiveness, and dosage of nutmeg consumption.

While there is no harm in using nutmeg in cooking, high doses may have adverse effects. Start by using nutmeg in quantities suggested in recipes. If you'd like to explore its potential medicinal benefits, like topical use, talk to your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does nutmeg taste like?

Nutmeg has a sweet and savory flavor. It is commonly used in spice blends like pumpkin pie spice and garam masala. It is also used in recipes for baked goods, sauces, meats, vegetables, and holiday beverages like eggnog.

Is nutmeg safe to consume?

Consuming nutmeg in usual quantities is safe. Recipes usually recommend quantities of about one-quarter teaspoon. Consuming more than a teaspoon in one sitting can cause adverse effects.

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Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a familiar, fragrant holiday spice available to purchase both ground and whole. It has antioxidant properties, but more research on humans is needed to determine potential health benefits.

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Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106417598.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

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The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is a large evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Until the late 18th century, it only grew in one place in the world: a small group of islands in the Banda Sea, part of the Moluccas – or Spice Islands – in northeastern Indonesia. The tree is thickly branched with dense foliage of tough, dark green oval leaves, and produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers and pale yellow pear-shaped fruits. The fruit is encased in a flesh husk. When the fruit is ripe, this husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit. Inside is a purple-brown shiny seed, 2-3 cm long by about 2 cm across, surrounded by a lacy red or crimson covering called an ‘aril’. These are the sources of the two spices nutmeg and mace, the former being produced from the dried seed and the latter from the aril.

Nutmeg was a highly prized and costly ingredient in European cuisine in the Middle Ages, and was used as a flavouring, medicinal, and preservative agent. Throughout this period, the Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe. They sold nutmeg for high prices to merchants based in Venice, but they never revealed the exact location of the source of this extremely valuable commodity. The Arab-Venetian dominance of the trade finally ended in 1512, when the Portuguese reached the Banda Islands and began exploiting its precious resources.

Always in danger of competition from neighbouring Spain, the Portuguese began subcontracting their spice distribution to Dutch traders. Profits began to flow into the Netherlands, and the . The Dutch quietly gained control of most of the shipping and trading of spices in Northern Europe. Then, in 1580, Portugal fell under Spanish rule, and by the end of the 16th century the Dutch found themselves locked out of the market. As prices for pepper, nutmeg, and other spices soared across Europe, they decided to fight back.

In 1602, Dutch merchants founded the VOC, a trading corporation better known as the Dutch East India Company. By 1617, the VOC was the richest commercial operation in the world. The company had 50,000 employees worldwide, with a private army of 30,000 men and a fleet of 200 ships. At the same time, thousands of people across Europe were dying of the plague, a highly contagious and deadly disease. Doctors were desperate for a way to stop the spread of this disease, and they decided nutmeg held the cure. Everybody wanted nutmeg, and many were willing to spare no expense to have it. Nutmeg bought for a few pennies in Indonesia could be sold for 68,000 times its original cost on the streets of London. The only problem was the short supply. And that’s where the Dutch found their opportunity.

The Banda Islands were ruled by local sultans who insisted on maintaining a neutral trading policy towards foreign powers. This allowed them to avoid the presence of Portuguese or Spanish troops on their soil, but it also left them unprotected from other invaders. In 1621, the Dutch arrived and took over. Once securely in control of the Bandas, the Dutch went to work protecting their new investment. They concentrated all nutmeg production into a few easily guarded areas, uprooting and destroying any trees outside the plantation zones. Anyone caught growing a nutmeg seedling or carrying seeds without the proper authority was severely punished. In addition, all exported nutmeg was covered with lime to make sure there was no chance a fertile seed which could be grown elsewhere would leave the islands. There was only one obstacle to Dutch domination. One of the Banda Islands, a sliver of land called Run, only 3 km long by less than 1 km wide, was under the control of the British. After decades of fighting for control of this tiny island, the Dutch and British arrived at a compromise settlement, the Treaty of Breda, in 1667. Intent on securing their hold over every nutmeg-producing island, the Dutch offered a trade: if the British would give them the island of Run, they would in turn give Britain a distant and much less valuable island in North America. The British agreed. That other island was Manhattan, which is how New Amsterdam became New York. The Dutch now had a monopoly over the nutmeg trade which would last for another century.

Then, in 1770, a Frenchman named Pierre Poivre successfully smuggled nutmeg plants to safety in Mauritius, an island off the coast of Africa. Some of these were later exported to the Caribbean where they thrived, especially on the island of Grenada. Next, in 1778, a volcanic eruption in the Banda region caused a tsunami that wiped out half the nutmeg groves. Finally, in 1809, The English saw this as an opportune time to take back the spice Islands so in 1809. They launched their attack and managed to overcome the Dutch and for a few short years the English exported nutmeg trees to other British colonies, which meant that for the first time ever nutmeg was Grown outside the Banda Islands it also meant that Banda became essentially worthless to the Dutch and they'd never be able to regain their Monopoly so with the Anglo Dutch treaty signed an 1814. Banda was returned to the Dutch and remained in their possession until indonesia's independence in 1949. But not before transplanting hundreds of nutmeg seedlings to plantations in several locations across southern Asia.

Today, nutmeg is grown in Indonesia, the Caribbean, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, and world nutmeg production is estimated to average between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes per year

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https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia/Ethnic-groups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA7gFnYfBqo&t=552s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bovUA3haHgk&t=1273s

https://www.indonesia-investments.com/culture/politics/colonial-history/item178?

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/food-drink/food/nutmeg-everything-you-need-to-know/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106417598.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Nutmeg: Health Benefits, Nutrition, and More (verywellhealth.com)

Morrisons: Shop: Baby & Toddler: Baby & Toddler Food & Drinks: Nutmeg

(536) How nutmeg made its way from 15th-century infamy to the Thanksgiving table - YouTube

book :The Nutmeg’s Curse

The Early History of Clove, Nutmeg, and Mace - Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas

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The barriers of the mountains and the sea have protected the character and traditions of many groups. Away from the major cities and areas of dense population, there are significant variations from one valley to the next and almost from one village to the next. In many cases the highland groups of the larger islands- Borneo, Sumatra, and Celebes-were relatively untouched by international influences until the arrival of Christian missionaries during the 19th century; these upland peoples continue to reflect great cultural diversity. Each island or group of islands east of Java also has maintained its own distinct character, in many cases strongly influenced by different religions. In particular, Bali -with its long tradition of Hindu and Buddhist influences rooted in local religious practices-is quite different in character and customs from any other part of Indonesia.

Western islands

The diverse ethnic populations of western Indonesia generally may be grouped into three broad categories. These are the inland wet-rice (irrigated rice) societies, the coastal trading, farming, and fishing peoples, and the inland societies of shifting cultivators.

The first group, the historically Hinduized (but now primarily Muslim) wet-rice growers of inland Java, Madura, and Bali, make up nearly three-fifths of the national population. With an ancient culture informed by strong social and agricultural traditions, it includes the Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, and Balinese peoples.

The Javanese constitute Indonesia's largest ethnic group, accounting for roughly one-third of the total population. Most Javanese live in the densely settled, irrigated agricultural regions of central and eastern Java-the most populous parts of the country. The cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo), in the centre of the island, are strongholds of Javanese culture and maintain traditional rulers, although these leaders have no real political power. Java's western region, including the city of Bandung, is the homeland of the Sundanese, who are related to but quite distinct from the Javanese in language and tradition. The Sundanese are the second largest ethnic group in Indonesia.

The island of Madura, northeast of Java, is the homeland of the Madurese, Indonesia's third largest ethnic group. In addition to cultivating wet-rice paddies, many Madurese raise cattle. The Balinese, who live just to the east of Java on Bali, are known for their intricate irrigation systems and terraced rice fields. Of the historically Hinduized communities in Indonesia, the Balinese are the only nonimmigrant practitioners of Hinduism.

The second group, the more strongly Islamized coastal peoples, is ethnically heterogeneous and includes the Malays from Sumatra and, from southern Celebes, the Makassarese and Bugis. The Sumatran Malays inhabit Aceh, a strongly Muslim region at the extreme northern tip of Sumatra that has long been noted for its resistance to European influence; a rich plantation area to the south of Aceh, along Sumatra's northern coast; and Bangka and Belitung (Billiton), two primarily agricultural islands off the southeastern coast of Sumatra. The Makassarese and Bugis live primarily in the coastal regions of southern Celebes. Like most Indonesian peoples, they are rice farmers; however, they are also maritime peoples with a strong tradition of boat making. The Makassarese and Bugis have a pronounced presence in coastal towns throughout Indonesia, although their influence has been strongest outside Java.

The third group, the inland shifting cultivators, plant swiddens-fields that are cleared, cultivated for a few seasons, and then abandoned for several years to allow the soil to regenerate-in areas where the climate will not support wet-rice farming. These communities tend to be small and relatively isolated, and they represent a wide array of cultures. The most prominent of the swiddeners are the Toraja of southern Celebes, the Batak of the highlands of northern Sumatra, and the various communities of the interior of Kalimantan, such as the Kenyah, Kayan, Ngaju, and Embaloh, who officially (and collectively) are called Dayak.

There are two major ethnic groups in the western islands of Indonesia that do not fit into this broad scheme of cultural categorization. The Minangkabau, a community of devout Muslim wet-rice farmers in west-central Sumatra, hold a unique position in Indonesia as a matrilineal society, whereby inheritance and descent are reckoned through the female line. The Menadonese (Minahasan) of northern Celebes are also atypical in that they are a historically Hinduized, predominantly Christian coastal community.

Eastern islands

Eastern Indonesia is characterized by the traditional Melanesian cultural division between coastal, or "beach," peoples and interior, or "bush," peoples. The Moluccas reflect this pattern, although their proximity to the western islands makes them a more complex ethnographic and linguistic area. The islands are populated by a number of distinct ethnic groups. Typical of the coastal peoples are the Ambonese, who live along the coasts of Ambon and neighbouring islands, including western Ceram. Some of the people living in the mountainous interior regions have been relocated to coastal areas, but-unlike the coastal peoples-they do not usually engage in fishing activities.

The distinction between coastal and interior peoples is especially salient in western New Guinea, where maritime trading communities live along the coast, while agrarian, noncommercial societies with strongly developed and highly localized customs inhabit the interior. Those in the foothills and on the coast have affinities with other Melanesian cultures to the east and south of New Guinea. In addition, Indonesians from the western islands have mixed with indigenous peoples in the coastal trading settlements. The people of the interior, such as the Asmat and the Dani, on the other hand, remained isolated for a longer period of time. Some groups continue to live in remote areas, where interaction with peoples and cultures beyond their proximate surroundings is limited. Most Papuans of the interior regions live in small communities and maintain a complex of dialects, customs, and social structures that is distinct from that of the coastal peoples.

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Indonesia - Ethnic Groups, Diversity, Culture

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Indonesia - Ethnic Groups, Diversity, Culture: The barriers of the mountains and the sea have protected the character and traditions of many groups. Away from the major cities and areas of dense population, there are significant variations from one valley to the next and almost from one village to the next.