Page 790 - Proceedings Collega2023

ABSTRACT

Ancient Kedah is the oldest renowned civilization in Southeast Asia that deserves to be well introduced to
the current generation. However, there is a vacuum in its information being among them are certain
commodities in its market, thus further feature about its trading network cannot be revealed. Therefore,
this study aims to unveil the meant network based on manifestly mentioned commodities of its market in
Riḥlat al-Sīrāfiy. This study employs qualitative approach through literature review for data collection.
Subsequently, the collected data are to be interpreted through contextual analysis. Finally, this study
manages to identify seven commodities namely agarwood, Malay camphor, sandalwood, ebony,
sappanwood, ivory and tin. Based on the commodities, this study traces the built networks which were
not restricted to the region of Nusantara. There were wider networks which transcended the boundary to
reach other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, albeit this study is bound in small scope of commodities.
Indeed, there is abundant of classical Arabic source to rely on in exploring the tactful Ancient Kedah. In
terms of further exploration, this study suggests a direct reference to the meant Arabic source, instead of
dependence on translation provided by the Western scholars.

Keywords: commodities; market; trading network; Riḥlat al-Sīrāfiy; Ancient Kedah

Pengenalan
Dipercayai Kalah atau Kedah Tua adalah sebuah wilayah yang luas merangkumi Takua Pa di utara
sehingga ke Kuala Selinsing di Matang, Perak menurut kajian Ramli (2020). Manakala Khaw et al. (2017)
memperkenalkan Kedah Tua sebagai sebuah kota pelabuhan yang teletak di Lembah Bujang yang
merangkumi kawasan dari lereng utara Gunung Jerai hingga ke kawasan Lembah Sungai Muda. Adapun
kawasan yang dikenali sekarang sebagai Jeniang dan Cherok Tokkun berkemungkinan merupakan

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 777 -