Page 14 - Revised Audiovisual Media-RaudhatulJannah

Palembang : A Historic City

Directions : Read the following text.

Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia. It is more than 1,300 years

old. This information comes from the Kedudukan Bukit Inscription, which was written in
the year 682. At that time, the ruler of Sriwijaya built a settlement called Wanua in the
area that is now Palembang.
Palembang is surrounded by water such as rivers, swamps, and rainwater. Even

today, more than half of Palembang is still often flooded. Because of this condition,
people believe the name “Palembang” comes from Malay words. “Pa” or “Pe” means
place, and “lembang” means low land or water. So, Palembang means “a place

covered by water.”
In the past, water was very important for transportation. People used rivers to
travel and trade. Palembang also has a strategic location. It is between mountains,

rivers, and the coast. This helped Palembang grow into an important city. Because of
these advantages, Palembang became the capital of the Sriwijaya Kingdom. Sriwijaya
was a powerful kingdom and a center of trade in Southeast Asia. Many traders from

China, Arabia, and Persia came to Palembang. The harbor was safe, and people lived in
houses on rafts.
After its golden age between the 7th and 9th centuries, Sriwijaya slowly
became weaker. This happened because of attacks from other kingdoms and strong

competition in trade. Later, new Islamic kingdoms grew and became powerful in the
region.

Source : https://palembang.go.id/profil/sejarah-kota-palembang

2