Influences of Islam

Evidence suggests that since the early 8th century, there have been Islamic
merchants trading in Indonesia. However, the spread of Islam was gradual and it
only began to really spread in the 13th century under the influence of the Malay kingdoms. Today, over 87% of the Indonesian population identifies as Muslim. As a religion, Islam is not as deeply rooted in Indonesian art and design.
The development of Islamic art differs from one country to the next depending on other external cultural influences. For instance in Indonesia, traditional arts like batik and calligraphy are an amalgamation of various cultures from Europe and Asia, thus Islam is not the dominant force. Indonesian history has always been shaped by a strong cultural heritage and folklore, and through the emergence of Islamic art, it gained a new perspective.