Toward an Autonomous History of Indonesia

The chronicles of pre‐colonial Indonesia were influenced by Hindu legends and by the concept of divine kingship and the cyclical view of history both of which stemmed from Hindu Philosophy. It was not until the late eighteenth century that the Europeans initiated scientific studies of Indonesian history. By the end of the nineteenth century these studies had evolved into what might be called Dutch colonial history with its primary interest in the expansion of Dutch power in Indonesia. Indonesian nationalists have subsequently tried to revive their own history. Although the idea of “Indonesia‐centric” history was advocated after independence, the writing of history for political purposes is being replaced by more substantial studies in each field of history.