Page 29 - E-BOOK SEJARAH DAN BUDAYA INDONESIA

Sumatra. They traded camphor which was cultivated by farmers in the interior. Camphor from
Batak soil is of high quality so that it becomes one of the export commodities in addition to incense.
In the 10th century, Barus was attacked by Srivijaya. This resulted in the expulsion of Tamil traders
from the coast of Sumatra . In the following periods, the trade of Barus lime began to be seized by
many Minangkabau traders who established colonies on the west and east coasts of North Sumatra.
Their colonies stretched from Barus, Sorkam, to Natal. Batak is one of the ethnic groups in
Indonesia. This name is a collective theme to identify several ethnic groups who live and come
from Tapanuli and East Sumatra, in North Sumatra. The ethnic groups categorized as Batak are:
Toba Batak, Karo Batak, Pakpak Batak, Simalungun Batak, Angkola Batak, and Mandailing
Batak. The majority of Batak people follow Christianity and the rest are Muslim. However, there
are also those who adhere to the Malim religion and also adhere to animistic beliefs (called
Sipelebegu or Parbegu), although now many adherents of these two teachings have become less
and less.

The Batak ethnicity is a combination of several tribes in North Sumatra, the identity of the
local indigenous people as the Batak Tribe was only known after 1926, namely after the formation
of an organization called Jong Batak. This organization is a collection of youths from Toba, Karo,
Simalungun, Mandailing, Angkola, and Pakpak. Jong Batak was formed without distinction of
religion. Previously, in North Sumatra there was no such tribal unity. Until the 19th century, the
relationship that existed between each other was more about the relationship between individuals,
and there were also relationships between villages and between kinship. The community does not
feel the need to be attached to a larger group. Many people assume, Colonial occupation in the
archipelago is the reason that makes the people of North Sumatra more have a sense and desire to
unite. Therefore, it is very amazing that at this time the Batak Tribe is known as one of the ethnic
groups that is very strong and has close ties to one another.

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