THE ROLE OF SPICES AND CULINARY IN SHAPING THE MALAYSIAN CIVILIZATION

RESOURCE: MELAYU DAN ISLAM

Archeologist Jan Wisseman Christie (1999) asserted that ancient Malay political power was built through spice monopoly, which required maritime capabilities and high-level diplomacy.

Spices have been a major commodity attracting Arab, Indian, Chinese, and European traders since the Sriwijaya era (7th century). The availability of these spices triggers the development of cosmopolitan ports such as Melaka and Aceh, which become cultural meeting points as well as economic centers.

In Melaka in 15th century, spices became a tool of diplomacy. Portuguese note * Suma Oriental * (1512) states that the Sultan of Melaka gifted cloves and nutmeg to foreign envoys as a form of soft power.

In the past, spices like cloves were referred to as symbols of luxury only served to aristocratic circles, indicating social stratification based on control over resources.

Spices are not just cooking ingredients, but art inspiration. The motif * clove flower * and * pepper sprouts * decorate songket weaving and Malay wood carvings, a symbol of harmony between humans and nature. The philosophy of *Islamic* that emphasizes balance is reflected in the combination of spices: spicy (spirit), sweet (tenderness), and sour (wisdom).

The presence of spices in the Archipelago has not only made the area a world trade center since the 7th century AD, but has also driven the growth of social systems, art, and technology.

At the same time, recipes like *nasi lemak* (rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves) started to emerge, combining local spices with Indian and Arabic cooking techniques.

Malay culinary, with a complex flavor of a mixture of spices such as * lengkuas *, * turmeric *, * lemongrass *, and * cloves *, is a cultural manifestation born from a long interaction with nature and global civilization.

Malay culinary is a product of civilization that developed economically, technologically and socially. Spices, as a global trade commodity, not only enrich the taste of cuisine, but also become the foundation of inclusive and adaptive Malay culture. The ability to process spices into dishes of high philosophical value, such as rendang and laksa, proves that the Malay society is not just passive consumers of globalization, but the main actors in shaping civilization through culinary.

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13/3/2025: 12 Ramadan 1446H: 11.53 p.m