Maldives History


Figure 1.-- Here an RAF doctor at aew Cold War air base cares for a Maldive child. The press caption read, "Coral Isle Becimes Key RAF Saging Post--Life on Gan: In the Indian Ocean mjidwat between Aden and Singapore and 600 milrs southwest of Ceylon there is a tiny sun-soaked coral islandwhich is now a vital linkin the Royal Air Force line of comminications to the Far East. This is Gan which has been developed since 1956 to take the place since 1956 to take the place of Katanayake in Cyylon which was given up by Britain when Ceylon requested withdrawl of British forces from the country. So the hitharto unimportnt 1 4/4 x 3/4 mile paradise isle became a new RAF stagin post, the native populationm were rehoused on a neighbouring island and a o prefabricated station was built foir the 600-odd man now serving there."

The Maldives are an group of coral islands off the southern tip of Asia, southwest of Sri Lanka. There are nearly 1,200 small islands, about 900 of ewhich are inhabited. The islands form a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented in a north-south direction. The Maldive isalands are situated on the trade routes between the Arab Middle East/western India and the to the east. Thus many different people settled on the islands over time most from nearby India and Sri Lanka. The first knowm inhabitants were was Buddhists from Sri Lanka and southern India (5th century BC). Arab domination of the sea routes resulted in the islands becoming Islamicized. Islam is believed to have been formally adopted (1153 AD). Ibn Baṭṭūṭah, a noted North African traveler, ;ived there for a while (mid-1340s). He provide an early written account, disturbed by the relative freedom women enjoyed. The islands were an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its political existance (1153-1968). The British establish a protectorate (1887) although they did not meddle much in domestic affirs. The British supressed the slave trade, although slavery was not totally eliminated. The British built a naval base durung World War II. It was unknown to the Japanese at the time of their Indian Ocean raid, but A german U-boat hit a tannker at Gan. Unlike other island groups off India, the Maldives did not become part of independent India, Sri Lanka and Islam were factors (1947). The British granted independence (1965). The country is notable as the last country to formally ablolish slvery. When independent Sri Lanka asked the British to remove their air bases, the British courted the Maldives for replacement bases, offereing an annual payment. The British offered protection and non-interfearance in domestic affairs. The British based opened at Addu/Gan (1957). It maintined during the Cold War. It was closed two decades later as a budgetary matter because was expensive to maintain (1976). The Maldives today are best known as a tourist delight with azure seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees. The economy which depended largely on fishing has been diversified with tourism. Ibrahim Nasr was elected the country's first president. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom suceeded him (1978) and be reelected for six consecutive term. he Maldives joined the Commonwealth (1982). A massive tsunami hit the islands causing great destructioin and loss of life (2004). Gayoom ruled for 30 years, most of it without any great concern for democracy for economic development. After the turn of he 21st centry, his government began econonic and political rreforms. We begin to see changes in human rights and governance. A new multi-party constitution was adopted (2008). Former political prisoner Mohamed Nasheed was elected president. Mauritian politics have since been unstable as Gayoom and Nasheed partisans vie for control.

Geography: Settlement

The Maldives are an group of coral islands off the southern tip of Asia, southwest of Sri Lanka. There are nearly 1,200 small islands, about 900 of ewhich are inhabited. The islands form a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented in a north-south direction. The Maldive isalands are situated on the trade routes between the Arab Middle East/western India and the to the east. The Maldives southeast of southen India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) with their small popultiom was inevitably affected by broader situationm Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions. Many different people settled on the islands over time most from nearby India and Sri Lanka.

Pre-history

Archaeological have found that the Maldives were inhabited by an unkniwn people, srelyfrom Ceylon (about 1500 BC).

Buddhists (5th Century BC)

The first knowm inhabitants were Buddhists. Seafers from from Sri Lanka and southern India srttled on he islands (5th century BC). Originally, the islands were under the suzerainty of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Ashoka the Great (r. 265-232 BC)nay have stablisged control over te islands. The Maldives by fotunate stroke of nature, a major source of the beautiful cowrie shells, commonly used as a currency throughout Asia and along the East African coast. The Maldives are believed to have been were influenced by the Kalingas of ancient India who sea traders and appear to have spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Major elmements of Maldivia culture developed during the centruies-long Buddhist era. This included th Maldivian language and the first written scriots. Oher influences include architecture, the political institutions, as well as customs and manners. [Maloney] It should not be thought this precluded Hindi culture. Buddhism arose in India and influenced Hindi culture. Maldivians decribe their their early history as 'obscure' consisting only of legends. One legend describes a Sinhalese prince named Koimale who was stranded with his bride--daughter of the king of Sri Lanka--in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first king. Persian and Arab travelers report that in the pre-Islamic period that the Maldives was ruled by women. After Islamization, only four queens ruled, the last one in the early 16th century. The pre-Islamic era is not well studied, in part because Islamic scholars consider pre-Islamic culture to be a 'period of ignorance'. Buddhist stupas and other structures have been found throughout the islands. Recently Muslim fundamentalists offended by pre-Islanic culture have destroyed their artifacts and works of art.

Islamic Sultanate (1153-1965)

An Islamic historical is that before Islam there was a time of 'Jahiliya' (ignorance). Maldivian school children are taught that the introduction of Islam was the cornerstone of the country's history. The islands were an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its modern political existance (1153-1968). Arab domination of the sea routes resulted in the islands becoming Islamicized, although this occured later than was later than the nearby Malbar coast. Buddhist Ceylon is the closest land mass, but Arab domination of the seas meant that Islam had a powerful advantage. Islam is believed to have been formally adopted (1153 AD). The last Buddhist king of Maldives, Dovemi Kalaminja, converted to Islam. The date most commonmly cited is 1153, but later dates are also cited. King Dhovemi adopted the Muslim title and name (in Arabic) of Sultan in addition to the old Divehi title of Maha Radun or Ras Kilege or Rasgefānu) Muhammad al Adil. This began a series of six Islamic dynasties consisting of eighty-four sultans and sultanas that lasted until 1932 when a new British intsalled constitution converted the sultanate into an elected office. Islamization apparently did did not go smoothly in the south. One source reports the suppression of Buddhism in the southern Haddhunmathi Atoll, which had been a major Buddhist center. Monks were taken to Male and beheaded. [Dhanbidhū Lōmāfānu] The formal title of the Sultan was, Sultan of Land and Sea, Lord of the twelve-thousand islands and Sultan of the Maldives. Ibn Baṭṭūṭah, a noted North African traveler, lived there for a while (mid-1340s). He provide an early written account. He was disturbed by the relative freedom women enjoyed compared to other Muslim societies. He saw it as violating Koranic tenants. Mopla pirates from the Malabar Coast (modern Kerala state in India), harassed the islands, attacking in war canones and sounding rather like tropical Vikings. A Maldive source claims that the people of the northern islands because they were frequently exposed to the Mopla pirate attacks are hardier and more vigorous than their less warlike southern neighbours. The Portuguese who attacked Islam and the Sultanate were soon outted (16th century). The Protestant Dutch and British tended to rule through the Sultanate. The British gradually encroache on the secular power of the sultanate, but did not attack Islam.

Portuguese and Dutch (16th-17th Century)

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to round the Cape of Good Hope and nter the Indian Ocean whih had been controoled by the Arabs. They established themselves in Male (1558). The Portuguese attempted to impose Christianity the Maldive population. A local leader named Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-Azam and two brothers organized a popular uprisung. They drove the Portuguese out of islands. This is now commemorated as Maluves National Day. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch who seized the islnds (1573). The French attempting to control Indua, occasionally meddled in local affirs. Unlike the Catholic powers (Portugal and Spanish), the Protestabt Dutch did not unterfere with local societies and religion. Thus the islands continued as a sultanate under the protection of the Dutch who controlled Ceylon (17th century). This was the same approach that the Dutch pursued with the Islamic sultanates in the East Indies (modern Indonesia). Local affairs coninued to be governed according to centuries-old Islamic customs.

British Protectorate (1796-1965)

During the French Revolution/Napoleonic Wars, the British seized Ceylon (1796). This conveyed control of the Maldives. The British paid little attention to the Maldives for several decades. They finally got entangled with the islands because of domestic tumoil which targeted the settler community of Bora merchants who were British subjects (1860s). A rivalry between the two dominant families, the Athireege clan and the Kakaage clan, resulted in violence. This was finally sorted out only when the Athireege on h support og British officials in Ceylon. Thi Protctorate was only formalized a few years later (1887). Like the Dutch, the British did not meddle much in domestic affairs. Abolishingbthe slave trade was a rare exception. The British supressed the slave trade, but slavery was not totally eliminated. Administrative control initially was held by sultans or sultanas, but this gradually changed. The Chief Miniter gradually encroached on the Sultan's authority and powers This was geberally resisted by the British Governor-General who continued to try to ork with an increasingly ineffectual Sultan. The first democratic constitution was proclaimed as part of a move towad home rule (1932). It ended the hereditary sultanate by making the sultan an elected official.

World War II

The Ceylon government of Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka assured the British of Ceylon's continued support. This esentilly committed th Mldives with its small popultion. British built a military base in Gan of Addu Atoll and Kelaa of Thiladhunmathi Atoll. The Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I was sunk off Addu Atoll (1941). The base was unknown to the Japanese at the time of their Indian Ocean raid (942). A a German U-boat hit a tannker off Gan.

Independence (1965)

Unlike other island groups off India, the Maldives did not become part of independent India, Sri Lanka and Islam were factors (1947). The British began a process of home rule. The islanders adopted a republican form of government (1952). The Sultanate was restored (1954). The British granted full independence (1965). The Islanders in a now independent country voted in a referendum to restablish a republic (1968) The country is notable as the last country to formally ablolish slavery. When independent Sri Lanka asked the British to remove their air bases, the British courted the Maldives for replacement bases, offereing an annual payment. The British offered protection and non-interfearance in domestic affairs. The British based opened at Addu/Gan (1957). It maintined during the Cold War. It was closed two decades later as a budgetary matter because was expensive to maintain (1976). The Maldives today are best known as a tourist delight with azure seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees. The economy which depended largely on fishing has been diversified with tourism. Ibrahim Nasr was elected the country's first president. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom suceeded him (1978) and be reelected for six consecutive term. he Maldives joined the Commonwealth (1982). A massive tsunami hit the islands causing great destructioin and loss of life (2004). Gayoom ruled for 30 years, most of it without any great concern for democracy for economic development. After the turn of he 21st centry, his government began econonic and political rreforms. We begin to see changes in human rights and governance. A new multi-party constitution was adopted (2008). Former political prisoner Mohamed Nasheed was elected president. Mauritian politics have since been unstable as Gayoom and Nasheed partisans vie for control.

Sources

Dhanbidhū Lōmāfānu.

Maloney, Clarence. People of the Maldive Islands (Orient Longman)







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Created: 6:44 AM 5/20/2018
Last updated: 3:41 PM 1/19/2019