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Religious and Political History of Maldives
Home » Maldives » Maldives - Overview and History » Religious and Political History of MaldivesThe earliest inhabitants came from what is presently known as Kerala, and spoke an ancient form of Tamil. By the 4th century A.D., Buddhism became the dominant religion and came from immigrants from Ceylon (what is now known as Sri Lanka).
According to archaeological and linguistic research, close ties between the Maldives islands and the kingdoms of southern India and Sri Lanka existed in this stage. Researchers concluded that the migration took place over a series of chronological phases rather than one big movement, thus their history of two languages and the various ethnic differences. While many people settled on the Maldives islands willingly, there were a number of people who were forced to go due to being exiled from Sri Lanka.
The people of the Maldives converted to Islam in 1153. The conversion was based on economic reasons in order to put the country in a favorable light with the foreign traders who sailed along the Indian Ocean. The switch did not happen without resistance, however. Early records show rebellious Buddhist monks from the Laamu atoll were beheaded in Malé due to their opposition. What once were monasteries, were now mosques. And those who were serfs to the monasteries, were now serfs to the mosques.
During the 16th century, the Portuguese came and colonized the islands and brought with them a serious threat to Islam on the islands. According to folklore, at this time, almost the entire population of Malé converted to Christianity. This time is recorded as being hostile and brutal to the people and as such, Mohamed Thakurufaan came to liberate them, and revive Islamic observance.
After this came periods of intermittent European influence and colonization. In the mid-seventeenth century, the Dutch replaced Portugal as the main power and established domination over the workings of the islands. In 1796, the Dutch were thrown out by the British and in 1887, the Maldives islands became a British protectorate and military base, though they retained an internal self-government. During this time, Maldives continued to be ruled by sultans who were established along hereditary lines. An attempt to change this to an elective succession in 1932 was made. It wasn't until 1965 that Maldives received total independence as a sultanate. In 1968 the ad-Din dynasty came to an end after six centuries of rule and the Republic of Maldives was declared.
Today, Islam remains the state relgion of the Maldives islands.
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