AHC: Wank the Maldives

[afcowitz]

Could this be solved by the Maldives taking control of a small coastal area in southern India? The coastal strip could be used as a shipyard and a base for trade with continental India, while political control of the thalassocracy would remain in the Maldives.

Hmmm. If like u said, Maldives established a trading posts in India as well as Bengal, Ceylon and Aceh (countries Maldives traded with in OTL) plus maybe cities in Africa and ME, it might have facilitated Indian Ocean wide trade, being in the centre of it all. Maybe it could have been a small financial power rather than military.
Its an interesting idea.

 

[Jonathan Edelstein]

Hmmm. If like u said, Maldives established a trading posts in India as well as Bengal, Ceylon and Aceh (countries Maldives traded with in OTL) plus maybe cities in Africa and ME, it might have facilitated Indian Ocean wide trade, being in the centre of it all. Maybe it could have been a small financial power rather than military.

I think it would almost have to be financial. The Maldives aren't big enough to be a military power even if they hire mercenaries - they couldn't compete with even the smaller states of continental India, let alone the large regional powers. Finance, on the other hand, is something that's easy to concentrate in a small space. If the Maldives are rich enough, and if their trading connections and island holdings are widespread enough, they could become the bankers for the entire Indian Ocean rim. That might help them buy the support of large continental powers to protect them from attack.

Just out of curiosity, would it be possible for the Maldives to stay Buddhist and become a sort of neutral broker between the Muslim and Hindu powers? It would be interesting if the Maldives could introduce Buddhism to East Africa.

The problem is that the Divehi government is unlikely to be so willing as the British government was about the base itself. The wouldn't want to be the US lackey of imperialism in the region, and neighbors like India could bully them to give up if need be. What's the political advantage for a small country in allowing that?

Protection from that very Indian bullying? As things stand now, the Maldives are part of India's near abroad; with an American base, they might be able to take a more independent course. Whether that would be worth being seen as America's regional lackey would depend on who's in power; there were plenty of countries willing to take on that role in OTL if the price was right.

 

[Herzen's love-child]

Biggest wank might be the onset of a new ice age, the consequent lowering of sea levels and the reversal of the submersion of the archipelago.

 

[afcowitz]

Bankers of the Indian Ocean. I like that idea.

Just out of curiosity, would it be possible for the Maldives to stay Buddhist and become a sort of neutral broker between the Muslim and Hindu powers? It would be interesting if the Maldives could introduce Buddhism to East Africa.

Maldives converted to Islam around 1153 AD. I am not sure if Maldives had strong trade routes to East Africa, but if there had been, it would certainly have been interesting to have a major Asian religion in Africa with Maldives being the conduit.

As far as neutral broker is concerned, in OTL wouldn't Sri Lanka have been in more or less the same position? Was SL involved in any sort of brokerage?

Protection from that very Indian bullying? As things stand now, the Maldives are part of India's near abroad; with an American base, they might be able to take a more independent course. Whether that would be worth being seen as America's regional lackey would depend on who's in power; there were plenty of countries willing to take on that role in OTL if the price was right.

Interestingly, this is a current event. The American govt is in discussion with the Maldivian govt about signing a SOFA (Status of Forces agreement). This might allow the US to set up a military base in the Maldives. I think this might have to do with the agreement with regarding Diego Garcia expiring in 2014.

Maldives' relation with India has also strained significantly since the coup in 2012 as well as Maldivian govt kicking out GMR (indian multinational) from Maldives.

 

[Jonathan Edelstein]

Bankers of the Indian Ocean. I like that idea.

Then write it up! You know more about the history and culture than any of us.

Maldives converted to Islam around 1153 AD. I am not sure if Maldives had strong trade routes to East Africa, but if there had been, it would certainly have been interesting to have a major Asian religion in Africa with Maldives being the conduit.

As far as neutral broker is concerned, in OTL wouldn't Sri Lanka have been in more or less the same position? Was SL involved in any sort of brokerage?

Fair point. Sri Lanka didn't do anything like that, as far as I know, but it also doesn't seem to have been a major maritime power (if this is anything to go by, the trade to and from Sri Lanka was carried on foreign ships). A Maldivian kingdom with its own merchant fleet would be better placed to act as broker and diplomat.

On the other hand, the Maldives' Muslim trading partners would be more likely to trust it if it were Muslim too. The Maldives might actually be Islamized sooner in this situation, because they'd have more and earlier contact with the Islamic world and would hear of the new religion more quickly. It would be nice if they could introduce Buddhism to East Africa first, though.

Interestingly, this is a current event. The American govt is in discussion with the Maldivian govt about signing a SOFA (Status of Forces agreement). This might allow the US to set up a military base in the Maldives. I think this might have to do with the agreement with regarding Diego Garcia expiring in 2014.

The lease expires in 2016 but any extension would have to be agreed upon by December 2014. There are also continuing legal issues between the UK, Mauritius and the Chagos islanders that might complicate an extension of the lease.