Richard L. Smith is a Professor of History and author known for his work on premodern global trade systems. While he is not exclusively a "Malay history" scholar, his research in Premodern Trade in World History (2008/2009) is frequently cited in discussions regarding the maritime prowess of early Malay and Austronesian sailors.
Recently, his name has trended in Southeast Asian academic and political circles due to a controversial claim made by a lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), who cited Smith to suggest that ancient Romans may have learned shipbuilding from Malay sailors.
Richard L. Smith's Core Arguments
In his book, Smith explores the development of the "all-water route" that connected the Mediterranean to the South China Sea. Regarding Malay/Austronesian sailors, he highlights several key historical points:
- Early Maritime Dominance: Smith notes that Malay sailors were likely the primary carriers of goods across the Indian Ocean long before Western powers or even the Chinese began deep-sea voyages.
- The Cinnamon Route: He supports the theory that Malay sailors reached the African coast in the first millennium BCE, bringing cinnamon (a product of Southeast Asia/China) to markets in Egypt and the Mediterranean.
- Technological Sophistication: He describes the advanced nature of "sewed boats" and multi-masted vessels used by Austronesian peoples, which allowed them to navigate the open ocean using monsoon winds—a feat that Roman coastal vessels were not initially designed for.
The "Malay-Rome" Controversy (2025)
The specific debate involving Smith’s work centers on the extent of Malay influence on Roman technology.
- The Claim: Dr. Solehah Yaacob (IIUM) cited Smith and other historians to argue that because Romans were primarily continental (land-based) until after 31 BCE, they sought maritime expertise from the Malay world to improve their shipbuilding and deep-sea navigation.
- The Nuance: While Smith acknowledges that Malay sailors were the "foremost deep-sea shipbuilders" of the early era, most mainstream historians (and critics in the Malaysian Parliament) argue there is no direct archaeological evidence that Romans "learned" their craft from Malays. Instead, Smith’s work is usually interpreted as showing that Malay seafarers were a vital, early link in a global trade network that eventually touched Rome.
Recommended Reading
If you are looking for his specific writings on this topic, you should refer to:
- Book: Premodern Trade in World History (Routledge, 2008).
- Chapter: "The All-Water Route" and "When India Was the Center of the World."
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THE WORLD OF MALAY SAILORS
The world of the Malay sailors was not just a collection of trade routes; it was a sophisticated, borderless maritime civilization known as the Nusantara (the Malay Archipelago). Long before European explorers reached these waters, Malay mariners were the "master navigators" of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
Their world was defined by a unique relationship with the sea, often reflected in the Malay concept of Tanah Air (literally "Land and Water"), where the ocean is not a barrier but a connector.
1. Technological Pioneers
The Malays were among the most inventive shipbuilders of the ancient world. Their innovations significantly influenced global maritime technology.
- The Jong (Junk): These were massive, multi-layered wooden ships. Long before the term "junk" was used by the Chinese, the Malay jong could carry up to 500–1,000 tons of cargo. Portuguese explorers in the 16th century were astonished to find Malay ships larger than their own galleons.
- The Balance-Lug Sail: An invention of global significance, this tilted rectangular sail allowed ships to sail "into the wind." Historians believe this Malay design likely inspired the Arab lateen sail and the later rigging of European ships.
- Indigenous Navigation: Malay sailors navigated without compasses or written charts for centuries. They used celestial navigation (the stars), observed wave patterns, the color of the water, and even the behavior of birds and the smell of the air to locate islands up to 30 miles away.
2. The Monsoon Economy
Life at sea was governed by the monsoon winds. The Malay world was the "halfway house" of global trade between China and India.
The Waiting Ports: Because the winds shifted every six months, sailors from around the world were forced to stay in Malay ports like Malacca, Srivijaya, and Aceh.
Global Melting Pots: This created a cosmopolitan world. In 15th-century Malacca, it was said that 84 languages were spoken in the markets. A Malay sailor was as likely to be conversing with a Gujarati merchant as he was with a Chinese diplomat.
3. Notable Figures and Legends
The history of Malay seafaring is filled with legendary figures who bridged the gap between myth and reality.
- Panglima Awang (Enrique of Malacca): Some historians argue that a Malay man, captured by Magellan and taken to Europe, was actually the first person to circumnavigate the globe by returning to his home region as a translator for the Spanish fleet.
- The Laksamana (Admirals): Figures like Hang Tuah symbolize the peak of Malay maritime chivalry. Later, women like Keumalahayati of Aceh became the world's first female admirals, leading fleets against colonial invaders.
4. Spiritual and Social Order
The sea was a sacred space, home to powerful spirits that required respect and propitiation.
- Ship as Society: The hierarchy of a ship mirrored the hierarchy of Malay society. The captain was the king, and the crew's survival depended on a code of loyalty and mutual aid (gotong-royong).
- The "Sea of Malayu": From the 9th century, Arabic texts referred to the Straits of Malacca as the "Sea of Malayu," acknowledging that the Malays were the undisputed guardians of these vital chokepoints.
Comparison of Ancient Vessels
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THE SEA OF MALAYU
The Sea of Malayu (or Laut Melayu) is a historical term used to describe the waters surrounding the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra—primarily the Straits of Malacca.
The name reflects a time when the sea was not seen as a barrier between nations, but as a "land-enclosed" waterway that connected the Malay people, their trade, and their culture.
1. Historical Origins
The term first appears in historical records over a thousand years ago:
- Arabic Records (c. 1000 CE): The earliest known reference is found in an Arabic document stating that travelers "reaching the Sea of Malayu were approaching the area of China." At this time, it likely referred to the entire maritime passage from the Straits of Malacca toward the South China Sea.
- Eredia’s Description (1613): Manuel Godinho de Eredia, a Portuguese-Malay cartographer, described the "Sea of Melayu" as the "land-enclosed sea" between the Malay Peninsula (Ujontana) and Sumatra (The Golden Chersonese). To him, the water was a central feature that defined the region’s geography.
2. The "Mediterranean" of Southeast Asia
Historians like Leonard Y. Andaya describe the Sea of Malayu as a "Mediterranean" zone. Much like the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, these waters served as:
- A Cultural Bridge: It allowed for the spread of the Malay language (Lingua Franca), Islam, and shared customs (Adat) across different islands.
- A Trade Highway: It was the primary artery for the global spice trade, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.
- The Realm of the Straits: The sea was the heart of powerful maritime empires like Srivijaya and the Malacca Sultanate, which controlled the flow of goods and people.
3. The "Sea People" (Orang Laut)
The Sea of Malayu was not just a path for merchants; it was home to the Orang Laut. These nomadic "Sea People" were:
- Expert navigators and guardians of the Straits.
- Vital allies to Malay Sultans, providing naval strength and piloting foreign ships through the treacherous shoals.
- The literal inhabitants of the "Sea of Malayu," living on boats and viewing the water as their ancestral territory.
Why the Name Disappeared
As colonial powers (the British and Dutch) arrived, they drew hard borders through the water to separate their territories. The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 effectively split the Sea of Malayu in two, eventually leading to the modern borders between Malaysia and Indonesia. The unified "Sea of Malayu" was replaced by modern names like the Straits of Malacca.
Compiled by:
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
7 January 2026: 2.22 p.m
