The Spice Islands to circa 1600: Society, Politics and Trade

Abstract

The Spice Islands have played a critical role in the early colonial history of Southeast Asia. Yet to date relatively little research has been carried out into the history of the Spice Islands themselves. In an effort to redress this, this thesis is a reconstruction of the general state of trade, politics and society in the Spice Islands. The islands designated as 'Spice Islands' in this work are the northern Moluccas; Ternate, Tidore, Motir, Makian and Bachian; neighbouring Halmahera; and the Banda Islands - Lonthor, Neira, Gunung Api, Pulo Ai, Pulo Run and Rosengain. 1 The primary focus of this thesis is on the north Moluccan islands in the years before the coming of the Portuguese, and an assessment of the impact of both Asian and European on the islanders.