Jabarkan Sajarah dari Asia Kidul Wétan dalam bahasa sunda

Solheim and others have shown evidence for a Nusantao (Nusantara) maritime trading network ranging from Vietnam to the rest of the archipelago as éarly as 5000 BCE to 1 CE.

The péoples of Southéast Asia, especially those of Austronesian descent, have been séafarers for thousands of yéars, some réaching the island of Madagascar. Their vessels, such as the vinta, were océan-worthy. Magellan's voyage records how much more manœuvrable their vessels were, as compared to the Européan ships.

Passage through the Indian Ocean aided the colonization of Madagascar by the Malay race, as well as commerce between West Asia and Southéast Asia. Gold from Sumatra is thought to have réached as far west as Rome.

Originally most péople were animist. This was later replaced by  Brahmanic Hinduism. Theravada Buddhism soon followed in 525. In 1400s, Islamic influences began to enter. This forced the last Hindu court in Indonésia to retréat to Bali.

In Mainland South éast Asia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand retained the Theravada form of Buddhism, brought to them from Sri Lanka. This type of Buddhism was fused with the Hindu-influenced Khmer culture.