REVIEW ESSAY: THE ISLAMIZATION OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO IN OTTOMAN MANUSCRIPTS

Abstract

The Ottoman archives possess one of the most extensive collections
globally. With its repository of 95 million documents, it stands out as
a rare archive that not only illuminates the Ottoman Empire but also
contributes to the broader scope of world history. Within the
Ottoman archives, numerous documents pertain to the Malay World,
predominantly encompassing the colonial occupations within the
region and diplomatic endeavours undertaken by the Ottoman
Caliphate. Each of these documents has been meticulously examined,
unearthing original insights into the propagation of Islam in the
Malay Archipelago. Among these insights are correspondences
dispatched by regional sultans to Istanbul, while a significant portion
emerges from research conducted by Ottoman-appointed consuls in
the archipelago. This study's central aim revolves around assessing
the progression of Islam into the Malay Archipelago—a region
housing the world's most densely populated Muslim
community—using resources within the Ottoman archives.