Forms of Migration in the History of Southeast Asia (A Study on Malay Classical Literatures)

Paper Abstract: Geographically speaking, the Malay world—which now encompasses Southeast Asia region— was once as international hub that connected the West and the East. This beneficial geographic location opened onto various global interactions like commercial, political, cultural and intellectual networks. This obviously provided a route for travellers like Arabs, Chinese, Indians, Europeans to migrate to this region. This article aims at elaborating the typologies of migration in the history of Southeast Asia. By analysing the historical accounts of Malay classical literatures like Hikayat Acheh, Tuhfat al-Nafis and others, it spells out the forms of migration that took place in the Southeast Asia. The historical accounts discloses that human migration to this land were due to some reasons; and this culminated in the forming of multicultural society.