Challenge: Independent Java

Here’s one for our Indonesian friends…



Here’s the Challenge: What if the Javanese Empire, which existed prior to the Dutch taking over, managed to somehow remain independent up until today, to one degree or another, whilst the European colonial powers were gobbling up other areas throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It doesn’t have to reflect the whole current territory of Indonesia, but at least most of not all of Java not to mention parts of Sumatra if possible.

Discuss.
 

Rockingham

Banned
Hmmm...."Japanesified"(i.e. wanked) Java would be cool....and being surrounded by wealthy colonial possesions held by weak powers like Netherlands and Portugal would be to tempting an opportunity to pass over if they managed to industrialize....
 
Java is about half the size of Honshū, but Sumatra is about twice the size of Honshu.

When the Dutch arrived in 1602 they found most of the two Islands covered by small Muslim City/States, which they picked off over the next 300 Years.

What is needed here is a Islexander, to unifiy the Island & archipeligo, before the Europeans arrive.
 
With the level of technology during the time and the problem of geography, it would have been tough to maintain a cohesive empire. Maybe if Islam was used in the same way it was in its early phase in the middle east, then it could serve as a uniting factor. An Indonesian Caliphate with religion as its strength.
 
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