Bali's
History
| There
is no trace of the Stone Age in Bali although it's certain that the
island was already populated before the Bronze Age commenced there
about 300 BC. Nor is much known of Bali during the period when Indian
traders brought Hinduism to the Indonesian Archipelago. The earliest
records found in Bali, stone inscriptions, date from around the 9th
century AD and by that time Bali had already developed many similarities
to the island you find today. Rice was grown with the help of a complex
irrigation system probably very like that employed now. The Balinese
had also already begun to develop the cultural and artistic activities
which have made the island so interesting to visitors right down to
the present day. Hindu Hindu Java began
to spread its influence into Bali during the reign of King Airlangga
from 1019 to 1042. At this time the courtly Javanese language known
as Kawi came into use amongst the royalty of Bali, and the rock-cut
memorials seen at Gunung Kawi near Tampaksiring are a clear architectural
link between Bali and 11th century Java. After Airlangga's death
Bali retained its semi-independent state until Kertanegara became
king of the Singasari dynasty in Java two centuries later. Artists,
dancers, musicians and actors fled to Bali and the island experienced
and explosion of cultural activities. The final great exodus to
Bali took place in 1478. European Marco Polo,
the great explorer, was the first recorded European visitor to Indonesia
back in 1292 but the first Europeans to set foot on Bali were Dutch
seamen in 1597. Setting a tradition that has prevailed right down
to the present day, they fell in love with the island and when Cornelius
Houtman, the ship's captain, prepared to set sail, half of his crew
refused to come with him. Dutch In 1710 the
capital of the Gelgel kingdom was shifted to nearby Klungkung but
local discontent was growing, lesser rulers were breaking away from
Gelgel rule and the Dutch began to move in using the old policy
of divide and conquer. Independence
Please email me if you need specific information at Bali_info_4u@yahoo.com
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