A Study of Historical Transformation of North Coastal Cities in Java

Abstract

Before Islam religion was accepted by the local rulers and inhabitants, Javanese cities and settlements were created according to Hindu-Buddhistic cosmology as described in Negakarertagama about Majapahit palace and cities of Bali Island. This planning concept drastically changed from ritual-oriented to commerce-oriented as soon as the local rulers accepted Islam in the 15th century as growth of international commerce. In order to support this supposition, urban pattern of the North coastal cities before and after islamization must be argued. Among the cities, Cirebon and Banten are taken as case study as they played an important role in the process of islamization and still exist after experience of several transformations. Main sources of the research are local chronicles and traveler’s account.