Indonesian culture is an inter-mixture of many diverse civilizations. The Hinduism and Buddhism of India exerted a profound influence on Indonesian life and left a strong imprint on the architecture and sculpture of the country. Arabic influence in Indonesia has been promoted since the thirteenth century, mainly through the teachings of Islam. The islands have also been affected by Southeast Asian and Polynesian cultures, as well as by the influx of Chinese and Dutch peoples. The weather is more moderate between monsoons.
Earthquakes are frequent in the Moluccas, and most of the islands are mountainous.
Several islands, especially Ternate and Banda, have active volcanoes. The Tanimbar and Aru island groups, however, are low and swampy. The climate of the Moluccas is tropical, with rainfall varying from 80 to 150 inches annually in various locations. In some areas, the evergreen rain forest formerly covering most of the islands has been leveled, and the land is now cultivated. There are also patches of open savanna, and the coasts are often fringed with mangrove swamps.