Editing Central Java (section)

=== Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic era ===
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Temperaschilderij voorstellende de Borobudur als bedevaartsoord TMnr 75-2.jpg|thumb|A painting (c. 1916–1919) by G. B. Hooijer reconstructing the scene of [[Borobudur]] during its height]]
Recorded history began in what is now Central Java in the 7th century AD. The writing, as well as Hinduism and Buddhism, were brought by the Indians from South Asia, at the time of Central Java was a centre of power in Java. In 664 AD, the Chinese monk [[Huineng|Hui-neng]] visited the Javanese port city he called ''Hēlíng'' (訶陵) or ''Ho-ling'', where he translated various Buddhist scriptures into Chinese with the assistance of the Javanese Buddhist monk Jñānabhadra. It is not precisely known what is meant by the name ''Hēlíng''. It used to be considered the Chinese transcription of ''Kalinga'' but it is now most commonly thought of as a rendering of the name ''Areng''. ''Hēlíng'' is believed to be located somewhere between Semarang and [[Jepara]].

The first dated inscription in Central Java was the [[Canggal inscription|Canggal]] from 732 AD. This inscription, from [[Kedu Plains|Kedu]], is written in Sanskrit in [[Pallava script]]. It is written that a [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] king named [[Sri Sanjaya]] established a kingdom called [[Mataram Kingdom|Mataram]]. Under the reign of Sanjaya's dynasty, several monuments such as the [[Prambanan]] temple complex were built. At the same time, a competing dynasty [[Sailendra]] arose, adhering to [[Buddhism]] and built the [[Borobudur]] temple. After 820 AD, there was no more mention of the ''Hēlíng'' in Chinese records. Coinciding with the overthrow of the Sailendras by the Sanjayas who restored Shaivism as the dominant religion. In the middle of the 10th century, however, the centre of power moved to eastern Java. [[Raden Wijaya]] founded the [[Majapahit Empire]], and reaching its peak during the reign of [[Hayam Wuruk]]. The kingdom claimed sovereignty over the entire [[Nusantara (archipelago)|Indonesian archipelago]], although direct control tended to be limited to Java, [[Bali]] and [[Madura Island|Madura]]. [[Gajah Mada]] was a military leader during this time, who led numerous territorial conquests. The kingdoms in Java had previously based their power on agriculture, but Majapahit had succeeded in seizing ports and shipping lanes, in a bid to become the first commercial empire on Java. The empire suffered a setback after the death of Hayam Wuruk and the [[Spread of Islam in Indonesia|entry of Islam into the archipelago]].

In the late 16th century, [[Islam]] had surpassed [[Hinduism]] and Buddhism as the dominant religion in Java. The emergence of Islamic kingdoms in Java is also inseparable from the role of [[Wali Sanga|Walisongo]]. At first, the spread of Islam was quick and was accepted by ordinary people, until the entrance of ''[[da'wah]]'' and it was carried out by the rulers of the island. The [[Demak Sultanate|Sultanate of Demak]] was the first recorded Islamic kingdom in Java, first led by one of the descendants of the Majapahit emperor [[Raden Patah]], who converted to Islam. During this period, Islamic kingdoms began to develop from [[Kingdom of Pajang|Pajang]], [[Surakarta Sunanate|Surakarta]], [[Yogyakarta Sultanate|Yogyakarta]], [[Sultanate of Cirebon|Cirebon]], and [[Banten Sultanate|Banten]]. Another Islamic kingdom, the [[Mataram Sultanate|Sultanate of Mataram]], grew into a dominant force in the central and eastern Java. The cities of [[Surabaya]] and [[Cirebon]] were subdued by Mataram. Only the Mataram and Banten Sultanates remained after the Dutch arrived in the early 17th century. Some Islamic kingdoms in Java can still be found in several regions, such as [[Surakarta]] (with two kingdoms of [[Surakarta Sunanate|Kasunanan]] and [[Mangkunegaran]]), and [[Yogyakarta]] with the [[Yogyakarta Sultanate]] and [[Pakualaman]].