West java history
The oldest human inhabitant archaeological findings in the region were unearthed in Anyer
on the western coast of Java with evidence of bronze and iron metallurgical culture dating to
the first millennium AD.[8] The prehistoric Buni culture, near present-day Bekasi, developed
clay pottery with evidence found in Anyer to Cirebon. Artefacts dated 400 BC — AD 100,
such as food and drink containers, were found mostly as burial gifts.[8] There is archaeological
evidence in Batujaya Archaeological Site dating from the 2nd century[citation needed] and,
according to Dr Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung Archaeology Agency, Jiwa Temple
in Batujaya, Karawang, was also built around this time.[citation needed]
One of the earliest known[clarification needed] recorded histories in Indonesia is from the former
Tarumanagara kingdom, where seven, fourth-century stones are inscribed in Wengi letters
(used in the Pallava period) and in Sanskrit describing the kings of the kingdom
Tarumanagara.[8] Records of Tarumanegara lasted until the sixth century, which coincides
with the attack of Srivijaya, as stated in the Kota Kapur inscription (AD 686).
The Sunda Kingdom subsequently became the ruling power of the region, as recorded on the
Kebon Kopi II inscription (AD 932).[8]
An Ulama, Sunan Gunung Jati, settled in Cirebon, intending to spread Islam in the town.
Meanwhile, the Sultanate of Demak in Central Java grew to become a threat to the Sunda
kingdom. To defend against the threat, Prabu Surawisesa Jayaperkosa signed the Luso-
Sundanese Treaty with the Portuguese in 1512. In return, the Portuguese were granted access
to build fortresses and warehouses in the area, as well as forming trading agreements with the
kingdom. This first international treaty of Sunda Kingdom with the Europeans was
commemorated by the placement of the Padrao stone monument at the bank of the Ciliwung
River in 1522.
Although the treaty with the Portuguese had been established, it could not come to
realisation. Sunda Kalapa harbour fell under the alliance of the Sultanates of Demak and
Cirebon (former vassal state of Sunda kingdom) in 1524 after forces under Paletehan alias
Fadillah Khan had conquered the city. In 1524–1525, troops under Sunan Gunung Jati also
seized the port of Banten and established the Sultanate of Banten which was affiliating with
Demak. The war between the Sunda kingdom with Demak and Cirebon sultanates continued
for five years until a peace treaty was made in 1531 between King Surawisesa and Sunan
Gunung Jati. From 1567 to 1579, under the last king Raja Mulya, alias Prabu Surya Kencana,
the Sunda kingdom declined, under pressure from Sultanate of Banten. After 1576, the
kingdom could not maintain control over its capital at Pakuan Pajajaran (present-day Bogor),
and gradually the Sultanate of Banten took over the former Sunda kingdom's territory. The
Mataram Sultanate from Central Java also seized the Priangan region, the southeastern part of
the kingdom.
In the 16th century, Dutch and British trading companies established trading ships in western
Java after the fall of the Sultanate of Banten. For the next three hundred years, western Java
fell under the Dutch East Indies' administration. West Java was officially declared as a
province of Indonesia in 1950, referring to a statement from Staatblad number 378. On 17
October 2000, as part of nationwide political decentralisation, Banten was separated from
West Java and made into a new province. There have been recent proposals to rename the
province Pasundan ("Land of the Sundanese") after the historical name for West Java.[9]
