The Jiankang Empire and the Expansion of Sino-Southeast Asian Exchange (5th-6th centuries CE)

This presentation asserted that the most rapid expansion of growth in Sino-Southeast Asian exchange prior to the ninth century was in the fifth and sixth centuries, not the early Tang, which is widely given credit. The Jiankang imperial capital (modern Nanjing) was not only the world’s largest city, but also the first time a Sinitic imperial city was also a major seaport, making it an ideal destination for Southeast Asian merchants and diplomats alike. The Jiankang ruling class was eager for commercial trade and culturally accommodating to Southeast Asians in a manner that northern Sinitic empires were not. The growth of maritime exchange during this period is readily demonstrated by the extent of diplomatic exchange; the increased trade in Southeast Asian commodities, especially aromatics and medicines; and the general influx of information about Southeast Asian states and peoples.