How did geography most benefit the Malacca and Brunei sultanates?
(1 point)
O They depended on natural barriers like mountains to protect them from invasion.
O They used overland access to India and China to develop profitable trade relations.
O They spread out across many islands, making it difficult for other peoples to conquer and control them.
O They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
O They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
The most beneficial aspect of geography for the Malacca and Brunei sultanates was their reliance on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
To determine how geography most benefited the Malacca and Brunei sultanates, we can evaluate the given options.
Option O: They depended on natural barriers like mountains to protect them from invasion.
This option is not applicable to the Malacca and Brunei sultanates since they were located in maritime regions and did not have significant mountain ranges for defense.
Option O: They used overland access to India and China to develop profitable trade relations.
While trade played a crucial role in the development of the Malacca and Brunei sultanates, both of these sultanates were predominantly located in maritime regions. Therefore, overland access to India and China was not the primary means for developing trade relations.
Option O: They spread out across many islands, making it difficult for other peoples to conquer and control them.
This option is indeed accurate. Both the Malacca and Brunei sultanates were located on the Maritime Southeast Asia, which is composed of numerous islands. The geographical spread across islands made it challenging for other peoples, including potential conquerors, to control and subjugate these sultanates.
Option O: They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.
This option is the most suitable answer. The Malacca and Brunei sultanates greatly benefited from their strategic geographical positions along the crucial sea trade routes, particularly the Strait of Malacca. This narrow waterway connected the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, making it a crucial passage for trade between India, China, and other regions. Controlling these sea trade routes provided the sultanates with substantial revenue and political influence.
Therefore, the correct answer is: They relied on waterways like the Strait of Malacca to control important sea trade routes.