Samudra-Pasai

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Samudra-Pasai (Semudera, Sumendala, Su-men-ta-la)

[Travellers | Cities | Routes | Trade Goods | Themes]


"The town of Semudera stood on the left or west bank of the Krueng Pasai, nearly opposite to Pasai or Pase, and about five miles from the mouth of the river, on the north coast of Sumatra . . . The country of Semudera must be placed in the Lho Seumawe district and surrounding region." At the time of the Ming voyages, until about the middle of the fifteenth century, "the kingdom of Semudera, sometimes called Pasai, while relatively unimportant from the political point of view, was yet the premier state of western Malaysia; and economically, it constituted the focal point of international trade until surpassed by Malacca".

- J. V. G. Mills, Ma Huan, p. 115, n. 5 (Sumendala, n. 1)

Semudera refers to the Lho Seumawe district on the north coast of Sumatra. Note that, according to Ma Huan, the fleet divided at Semudera in the 1421-22.

- J. V. G. Mills, Nagur, n. 2; Lambri, n. 2; Lide, n. 4; Maldives & Laccadives, n. 2; Aden, n. 2.

The boundary was probably near the Sungai Tamiang (mouth in 4˚ 25’ N, 98˚ 15' E).”

- J. V. G. Mills, Aru (Deli), n. 4

“Semudera, that is Lho Seumawe. As has been noted above, the Bataks had been able to force themselves between Semudera and its vassal Lide (Meureudu).”

- J. V. G. Mills, Lide, n. 4.


 

Samudra-Pasai

Ma Huan
The Ming Voyages
(1405-1433)