Local History
The earliest account of Kalimantan is found in Ptolemy's Topographical Guide of 150. The discovery of Roman shopping beads and Indo-Javanese artifacts in this area proves that civilization flourished here from the 2nd to 3rd centuries BC. The discovery of three elaborated cornerstones with inscriptions of gifts to Brahmin monks at the Kutai River (another translation of the Mahakam River), dating from the beginning of the 5th century A.D., proves that there was an Indian kingdom in East Kalimantan. Buddha statues in the style of Gupta Dynasty art have also been found in the Kapuas and other river basins in West Kalimantan. The later rulers of Kalimantan were probably vassals of the Majaphitempire (1293-1520) of East Java.
With the introduction of Islam in the early 16th century, a number of Muslim kingdoms were established, including Banjarmasin, Sambas, Sukadana and Landak. The Sukadana rulers owed allegiance to the Muslim Mataram kingdom of Java.
European Entry
Modern European knowledge of Borneo began with travelers passing through Southeast Asia in the 14th century. The first European visitor was the Franciscan friar Odoric of Pordenone, who visited Talamasim on his way from India to China in 1330. The Portuguese established trade relations on the island in the early 16th century, followed by the Spanish. In the early 17th century, the Portuguese and Spanish trade monopoly was broken by the Dutch, who succeeded in displacing the influence of the Mataram by interfering in the affairs of the Muslim kingdoms. The narrow strip of land along the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea has always favored the Philippines and was often attacked by Sulu pirates. British power, especially in the north and west, weakened the Dutch. The Sultanate of Brunei, an Islamic kingdom, once controlled the entire island, but by the 19th century its rule was limited to the north and northwest. Sarawak in the southwest seceded and became an independent kingdom, then a British colony. North Borneo (later Sabah) in the northeast was used by a British company as a base for promoting trade and suppressing piracy. Its boundaries were drawn in 1912. These losses greatly reduced Brunei, which had become a British protectorate.
Chinese exchanges with Kalimantan
Chinese contact with Borneo was early. Around 414 A.D. (the 14th year of Emperor Longan of the Jin Dynasty), the Chinese monk Fa Xian passed through the South Seas on his way back to China after seeking the Dharma from India, and there is a reference to Yebati, which according to historians is believed to be the present-day island of Kalimantan. The earliest record of navigation between China and Kalimantan appeared in the Book of Liang, in 520 A.D. (the first year of Emperor Wu's Common Era), and in ancient Chinese texts it was then known as Bo Nai, Brahmaputra, or Brahmaputra, which later evolved into Brahmaputra Nai, which is now commonly known as Brunei.
Modern history
During the Japanese invasion of Borneo (1941-1942) during World War II, the British and Dutch troops stationed on the island at Elephantine were quickly eliminated, and the island was not recaptured until 1945, when in July 1946, both Sarawak and North Borneo were made British Crown Dependencies. In Dutch Borneo, as the Dutch attempted to re-establish their rule, a strong nationalist sentiment grew and eventually led to war between Indonesian and Dutch forces.In 1949, sovereignty over Borneo was transferred to Indonesia, and the following year, a new constitution declared Dutch Borneo to be a part of Indonesia*** and the State of Indonesia.In 1963, Sabah and Sarawak were admitted to the Malaysian Federation in 1963, the British government relinquished its dominion over these areas. Instead, hostilities began with Indonesian ****anese guerrilla attacks on the border areas, which ceased in 1966 when an agreement was reached between the two sides. Brunei was under British protection from 1888 to 1983, except during the Japanese occupation, when it gained full independence on New Year's Day 1984. The population is sparse (by Asian standards), with around 20 million people, nearly three quarters of whom live in Indonesia. The ethnic composition is complex, with non-Muslim Dayaks and Malays practicing Islam, as well as Chinese and a few Europeans. Sabah has a unique ethnographic structure and is an uncompromisingly diverse melting pot of ethnic groups, each with its own culture, dress code, traditional customs and festivals. With a population of 2.86 million, Sabah is a multicultural, multireligious and multicultural society built on the harmonious coexistence of more than 80 languages spoken by more than 30 ethnic groups*** Each of these different ethnic groups has been able to preserve and pass on their own traditional cultures, languages, customs and festivals, which are the envy of many countries.
The Malay and Aboriginal communities (with the Kadazan Dusun, Payao and Mawlak as the three largest) make up the majority of Sabah's population, followed by the Chinese, Indians, and other ethnic groups. The largest aboriginal group in Sabah is the Kadazan Dusun, who live in the inland plains, along the west coast and in the north. They are traditional cultivators who make their living by growing rice, although many have moved to the cities to work and live. The Bajau are generally good fishermen, while those on the west coast mostly rely on farming for their livelihoods and are skilled horseback riders, known as the cowboys of the East. On the east coast, the Bajau are hardcore fishermen who have spent their lives on the sea. Most of the Murut live in remote mountainous areas in the interior of southwestern Sabah, such as Kandi Bite, or in the border areas of Sarawak and Indonesia, where they mainly rely on hunting and nomadic farming for their livelihoods. The Mauluds have been feared in the past because of their ancestors' customary background as head hunters. The Chinese, on the other hand, are the largest non-indigenous ethnic group population with over 300,000 people, mostly clustered in the major cities of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching and other small towns, where they are engaged in business, farming or small-scale industrial livelihoods. Kalimantan is divided into three territories: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
The northern part of the island is East Malaysia, which consists of the states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan (the second largest area), formerly known as North Borneo, a former British colony that joined the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963. 2010's population is 6 million.
In Sabah, Sarawak in the middle of Brunei, the entire territory is within the island of Borneo, including the neighboring islands (the smallest area), the population of 400,000 people.
Malaysia's Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei are collectively known as the "North Borneo three states", referred to as the "Sawamunsha". It covers an area of 196,500 square kilometers.
The southern part of the Kalimantan region belonging to Indonesia, an area of 539,500 square kilometers, divided into North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan five provinces. Kalimantan was a Dutch colony until 1949. (Largest area) Country and percentage of the island's area First class administrative region Brunei 0.8% Brunei Morar (capital city) Tutong Regency Malayaiyi Regency Tamparong Regency Malaysia 26.2% Sarawak Sabah Indonesia 73% North Kalimantan East Kalimantan West Kalimantan Central Kalimantan South Kalimantan Just like the rest of the country, this place has its own customs.
Take off your shoes when entering a Muslim home or mosque, and don't wear shorts, skirts or revealing clothing when visiting temples. Do not walk in front of people while praying.
Muslims do not eat pork and regard the left hand as unclean (only use the left hand when using the toilet), so remember to use your right hand when shaking hands with them and handing things (especially food).
It is impolite to use your index finger to point at people and anything. It is more appropriate to use the thumb of the right hand (holding the remaining four fingers tightly).
Please do not touch a woman's shoulder, and do not touch the head or the Koran.
Generally, Sabahans understand that tourists do not mean to offend due to differences in customs and culture, but it is best to do as the Romans do. There are hospitals and clinics all over Sabah. Medical facilities and services are of an internationally recognized standard. Pharmacies are available in large shopping malls and shopping districts, selling common household remedies and hygiene products.
Do not drink unboiled tap water. Clean drinking water is available in restaurants. Bottled drinking water is also available in stores.
Sabah's climate is warm and humid, so don't leave food out at room temperature for too long as this encourages the growth of bacteria. Do not eat food that already smells bad as it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and disrupt your trip. If you plan to eat the food later, store it in the refrigerator.
Apply sunscreen/sunblock before going outdoors for long periods of time to prevent sunburn.
When you sweat a lot during long outdoor activities, drink plenty of water to avoid the discomfort caused by dehydration on hot days.
When you are in the forest or in the field, there may be mosquitoes in the hot and dark places, so you can use mosquito repellent or wear long-sleeved clothes and pants to prevent mosquito bites.