Chapter 3 Early Contacts

with Neighboring Countries

(900 1400 AD)
Introduction
Oral and cultural evidence show that early
on, the Philippines already had trade and
cultural exchanges with its Asian and
Southeast Asian Neighbors.
Early Trade Routes and Contacts
Ancient Filipinos,
were expert seafarers
and boat builders.
Filipino historians

and archeologists
believe the Filipino
Chinese trade
contacts began
around the 9th
century during the
Tang dynasty.
Arab Trade Routes in Asia
Between 900 and 1200 A.D., a group of
people called Orang Dampuan from Southern
Annam (Vietnam), established trading posts
in Sulu and flourishing trade developed
between Champa (Annamese kingdom) and
the people of Sulu who were called Buranun.
It was favorable for the Orang Dampuans but
drew rage and jealosy to the Buranun.
Buranuns massacred some Orang Dampuans
 Another group is the Banjar of nearby
Borneo.
Banjarmassins were more diplomatic.
Sulu became an emporium.
Sulu was rich in pearls and gold was

abundant in the country.

Arab Trade Routes
Arab Traders, barred from the central
Chinese Coast, relocated to the Malay
Peninsula and passring through Borneo and
Philippines to reach Taiwan.
Economic and Cultural
Changes
Using the COMPASS on sea voyages, Chinese
and Arab traders competed on each other
during 11 12th Century.
Philippine goods include the following. Bulak,
abaca, cloth of various patterns, hardwoords,
gums, resins, betel nuts, pear shells, pink and
blue coral trees, rattan, mats, and pepper
Chinese goods include the following: iron bars,
porcelain and pottery silk, chintz, black
damask, Java cloths, red tafetta, gongs, bells,
mirrors, glass beads. Etc.
Arab and Chinese Compass
Some Chinese Words Adopted in
Tagalog
Am pau ampaw puffed rice or corn
He bi hibi dried salted shrimps
Ke tai katay cut up meat
Le piah lipya plowshare
Hok bu hukbo army
Peh chichai petsay chinese cabbage
The Coming of Islam
600 AD, Islam spread outside of Arabia in 2
stages
First Stage - Islam was brought to the rest of

the Middle East, N. Africa, Spain and Central

Asia
 Second Stage Muslim missionaries
traveled with Arab merchants to India,
China and Southeast Asia
Some of them settled and intermarried with

members of the royalty.

Build mosques and madrasahs.
Tuan Mashaika and Tuan Maqbalu. They

were the one introduced Islam in the

Philippines.
Teachings of Islam
There is only one supreme being, Allah, the
creator of universe and manking.
Allah is just and merciful God and it is

Allahs desire that all should repent of their

sins, purify themselves so they could enter
Paradise after death.
Life in this world is only temporary and

ones good deeds, as well as the bad deeds,

are listed by an angel for final judgement on
the last day of the entire humanity.
 The Koran forbids any human or animal
representation on their art. Only geometric
patterns are allowed.
Eating pork, drinking wine, gambling, and

other vices are forbidden in orthodox Islam.

Islam forbids loans and luxury
Muslims are duty bound to help the poor,

the orphans and widows.

 Telling lies, stealing, adultery and murder are
all grave sins that deserve serious punishment.
Every Muslim must have goodness expressed
in fainth in God and such virtues as patience,
faithfulness, honesty, industry, honor and
courage.
A follower of Allah has to observe the following
rituals or obligations: a declaration of faith in
oneness of God; prayer facing the East 5 times
a day; fasting; giving of alms; one time
privilege to Mecca.
The Sultanate
Unlike the barangays of the non-muslim
Ancient Filipinos which were smaller in size
and very much decentralized, the sultanate
governed a much larger territory through a
centralized network of officials with the
Sultan at the top
 Sultan

Ruma Bichara
(A council of elders composed of datus) and
Panglimas (teachers)

Other Board of Officers

(Waiir, Maja Rajah, Rajah Laut, Qadi,)