What evidence is used to reconstruct the pre-Islamic history of the Maldives?

Historians use archaeological remains such as Buddhist structures, coral-stone buildings, inscriptions, burial sites and trade goods, together with linguistic evidence and later written accounts. Because early written records are limited, the chronology and extent of pre-Islamic traditions in the Maldives remain partly uncertain.

How did the Maldives change from a Buddhist society to an Islamic sultanate?

Traditional Maldivian accounts date the ruler’s conversion to Islam to 1153 and connect it with Dhovemi. Islam then became the foundation of the sultanate, but the detailed process of religious change across the islands is not fully documented.

How did Portuguese control and the British protectorate affect the political history of the Maldives?

The Portuguese controlled Malé and the Maldives from 1558 to 1573. Under the British protectorate established in 1887, Britain handled defence and foreign relations while Maldivian authorities retained internal administration.

When did the Maldives become independent and a republic?

The Maldives became independent from Britain on 25 July 1965. The sultanate was abolished in 1968, when the country became a republic.

History in Maldives

Archaeological evidence shows that people have lived in the Maldives for more than two millennia. Buddhist communities preceded the establishment of an Islamic sultanate in the 12th century. Portuguese control lasted from 1558 to 1573, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887, gained independence in 1965 and became a republic in 1968.

byAishath&Mohamed

The early history of the Maldives is difficult to reconstruct because written records are limited and many accounts were recorded much later. Archaeological sites, coral-stone structures, Buddhist remains, inscriptions, burial places and trade goods show that the islands were connected to wider Indian Ocean networks. Excavations at places such as Kaashidhoo provide evidence of Buddhist monastic communities before Islam, while some findings also suggest older religious influences. The extent and sequence of these early traditions remain subjects of historical research. Traditional accounts date the conversion of the ruling dynasty to Islam to 1153 and associate it with the ruler Dhovemi. Islam then became the foundation of the Maldivian sultanate, although the process by which religious change spread through the islands cannot be reconstructed in every detail. The Maldives continued to trade across the Indian Ocean, including through the export of cowrie shells used as currency in parts of Asia and Africa. Accounts by travellers such as Ibn Battuta provide valuable evidence for the sultanate in the 14th century but must be read alongside local traditions and archaeological findings. The Portuguese seized Malé in 1558 and controlled the Maldives until resistance ended their occupation in 1573. In 1887 the sultanate entered a British protectorate relationship. Britain took responsibility for defence and foreign relations, while the Maldivian authorities retained internal administration. The Maldives became independent on 25 July 1965. In 1968 the sultanate was abolished and the country became a republic. Modern history also includes the growth of tourism from the 1970s, the continuing importance of fishing and maritime connections, and the political relationship between Malé and the widely dispersed atolls. A reliable account therefore compares oral traditions, later chronicles, foreign travel records, architecture, inscriptions and archaeological evidence instead of treating one source as a complete record.

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